A black assistant director who was fired from the set of 2 Fast 2 Furious has settled a racial discrimination suit with a Hollywood studio.
Frank Davis was sacked from Universal Pictures' street racing movie in 2002.

The court in Los Angeles was notified of the settlement just before director John Singleton was set to take the stand for a second day of evidence.

Despite the settlement, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has opted to continue with the action.

"We are a separate party and when we sue, we sue in the public interest," EEOC regional lawyer Anna Park said.

"We need to be satisfied in any resolution that the public interest is served."

Studio denial

Ms Park acknowledged that the government's case might be more complicated since Mr Davis had agreed to a settlement.

"Win or lose, the government is doing its job," she said.

"I want the message to be heard that the EEOC is there for people. The government can't be bought off."

The EEOC sued Universal Pictures four years ago claiming Mr Davis was fired without cause even after Mr Singleton, who also is black, objected.

The studio denied the allegation, claiming Mr Davis could not handle his duties on a complicated, big-budget film that contained numerous action sequences and stunts.

Crew complaints

Mr Singleton has previously told the court he thought race may have played a role in Mr Davis' dismissal.

But giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Singleton said he made an "executive decision" to let Mr Davis go after several film crew members complained about him.

Mr Singleton was pressed by EEOC lawyers on what they called inconsistencies between Tuesday's testimony and his 2004 account.

Mr Davis, who was fired on 6 Oct 2002, joined the EEOC's action, alleging his civil rights were violated.

He was seeking damages estimated at several million dollars. The EEOC was seeking back pay and punitive damages as well as court-enforced monitoring, oversight of the studio's hiring and firing practices and anti-discrimination sensitivity training.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6751511.stm