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SAN FRANCISCO – An African American deputy probation officer in Marin County was awarded $1.6 million in damages in a civil rights suit. 

Officer Lonnie Morris, 44, along with fellow officer Wilfred Broom, sued the county government in 1999, asking for $2 million and accusing Marin County officials of maintaining a hostile work environment for racial minorities. The suit named the county, the board of supervisors, the probation department and Chief Probation Officer Ronald Baylo as defendants. 

The U.S. District Court jury in San Francisco issued a verdict Friday in favor of Morris that included $1.1 million in damages against the county and more than $500,000 against Baylo for racial discrimination. It also found Baylo liable for $20,000 in punitive damages, but rejected Morris’ claim that he was not promoted because of racial discrimination.