Thirty-nine plaintiffs in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed against tri-state auto dealer Jeff Wyler will split up about $2.3 million, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The federal agency said the money would be made available under terms of a consent decree that was agreed to by the region's largest auto dealer and the EEOC, which is responsible for enforcing laws that prohibit discrimination in hiring.

The case dates to September of 2003, when the EEOC said about a dozen women complained that they had been passed over for car sales jobs because of their gender.

The lead plaintiff in the case claimed that she had tried to get a job at Wyler Chevrolet in Eastgate during a 15-month period that ended in August 2001. She contended that a number of men were hired during the period although she had been told that she would be hired as soon as a vacancy occurred.

Besides the payment, the EEOC said the settlement includes management accountability and training as well as reporting and monitoring requirements.

"It's disturbing that women still face the barriers and stereotypes they faced 40 years ago when Title VII was enacted," said EEOC regional attorney Jacqueline McNair, referring to anti-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Jeff Wyler Automotive Family Inc. has vehicle dealerships locally in Eastgate, Fairfield and Colerain Township, and Alexandria, Fort Thomas and Florence, Ky. It also has dealerships in Dayton and Springfield, Frankfort, Ky., and Clarksville, Ind.

Makes sold include Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Kia, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Scion, Mazda, Toyota, Nissan and Pontiac.

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