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Judge: NYC Owes More Than $128 Million In FDNY Lawsuit

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A federal judge says the amount of back wages owed to minorities impacted by discrimination in New York City's firefighter entrance exams could be more than $128 million.

In a decision Thursday, U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis said there would have to be hearings held to determine how much individual claimants would receive, which could lower the total amount the city would have to pay.

Garaufis had ruled last year that the Fire Department of New York discriminated against minorities in its entrance exam. Some minorities who might have otherwise been hired weren't, and others who were hired might have been hired sooner.

The city's lawyers said the opinion is "erroneous" and that any money the city has to pay will be far less than $128 million.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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