Discrimination claim number two hits SRT

City shipping firm Sinclair Roche & Temperley made an out-of-court settlement to a second former assistant solicitor in its property department, it has emerged.

It is believed Olienka Shaw was paid around £4,000 in settlement of a claim of race discrimination last November against the head of the commercial property department Anthony Hurndall.

Two weeks ago The Lawyer revealed that the firm had paid former assistant solicitor in the property department, Tania Merrin, £30,000 in settlement of a sex discrimination claim and a claim for unfair dismissal against SRT and Hurndall.

Other cases of sexual discrimination brought by two female support staff and unfair dismissal are still outstanding.

Shaw, who was admitted in 1993 and now works at the London Borough of Hounslow, was made redundant from SRT's commercial property department in mid 1995. Both she and SRT have signed a gagging clause as part of the settlement.

Jeff Morgan, SRT's managing partner, said that both settlements were lower than the costs of successfully defending the actions. "We are clear there is no question of discrimination," he said.