Monday April 26, 1999 1:00 pm Eastern Time


Hyundai Fined for Discrimination


SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) -- Hyundai Semiconductor America Inc. must pay
$9.5 million to a corporate headhunter, who said he was fired for
refusing to discriminate against women and minorities, an Orange County
Superior Court jury decided. Hyundai plans to appeal the decision.


The company, a division of Korean giant Hyundai Group, came out the
loser on Friday in a lawsuit filed by Jeff Abraham, owner of Technical
Resources Inc.


``The verdict is the truth. The award is beyond my wildest
expectations,'' Abraham said. ``This has never been about money. I did
this because I wanted the record to show what they're all about, and
it's on the record today: Hyundai stands for discrimination and
intimidation.''


Hyundai said in a statement that it would appeal the verdict and ``has
not ever, nor does it now, discriminate in hiring or contracting
practices.''


Hyundai hired Abraham's recruiting firm in 1996 to find engineers and
other professionals for a computer chip manufacturing plant in Eugene,
Ore.


According to his lawsuit, Abraham was told by James F. Menzie, a Hyundai
human resources manager, to stop sending resumes from blacks or women.
Menzie said the Korean managers had indicated ``they would hire as few
as possible,'' the suit contended.


When Abraham refused, the suit claims the company cut its business ties,
refused to pay commissions it owed for two recruits and began a smear
campaign against Abraham's company.


Abraham also alleged that Menzie demanded thousands of dollars in
kickbacks. In addition to Hyundai's payment, the jury ruled that Menzie
must pay Abraham nearly $500,000.