EX-MTA MANAGER TO GET MILLIONS.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Daily News Staff Writer

A judge awarded an Egyptian-American former MTA worker more than $5.6 million in damages in a race discrimination case - the largest judgment of its kind for the MTA, attorneys announced Thursday.

Albert Boctor said he is elated that his 8-year ordeal is over. He alleged ``national origin discrimination'' in 1991 when he was demoted from a Sun Valley management position to a bus driver while seeking a promotion, attorneys said.

``I feel vindicated. Where I am from, your name is worth much more than money,'' said Boctor, who has suffered two heart attacks since the allegations surfaced and now drives a bus at Ontario International Airport.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Boctor's supervisor, who was a rival for the promotion, discriminated against Boctor in treatment of a sex harassment claim against him, according to court papers.

Boctor became the target of false allegations of sexual harassment by the supervisor, Daniel Ibarra, and was demoted because of the allegations.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Reginald A. Dunn determined the allegations were false and that Boctor had been a victim of discrimination.

His fight might not be over, however, as the MTA board will discuss whether to appeal the ``senseless'' ruling, Los Angeles County Deputy Counsel Steven Carnevale said. Two courts had upheld Boctor's demotion before he filed a second lawsuit, which went to trial in January, Carnevale said.

``What's troubling about this is that after he lost his previous suits, the MTA became subject to another lawsuit,'' Carnevale said.

Boctor's attorney, Bradley C. Gage, said his client was one of the ``fastest-rising stars'' in the organization and the victim of bitter internal conflict. That conflict led to false allegations of sexual harassment that blocked his potential promotion, Gage said.

In 1991, Boctor and Ibarra - who is now the MTA's deputy director of transit operations - both sought the same management position. Ibarra launched an investigation against Boctor, accusing him of sexually harassing three women, Gage said.

Gage and Boctor alleged that Ibarra was fearful that Boctor might get the promotion, considering his experience and dual bachelor's degrees. Ibarra also called Boctor a ``camel jockey,'' according to court documents.

``Our case basis was that Ibarra didn't like his rival, he didn't like Eastern people and thought Boctor was too old,'' Gage said.

Ibarra could not be reached for comment.

Ibarra won the promotion. After an administrative hearing, Boctor was demoted from management to driving a bus.