41111111111110. AINO11 0. RweCn&E D T, CD, rights, even as a youngster," said her father, Jim Grossman of Farmington Hills. "She was a speed reader at the age of 4, and was active in women's rights issues while still in the sixth grade. Now, it's a joy to watch her follow through and do her thing." Elizabeth attended Upland Hills Elementary School in Oxford, Cranbrook Kingswood High School in Bloomfield Hills and the University of Michigan's law school in Ann Arbor. As a child, she marched with her mother in Equal Rights Amendment rallies in Detroit and Washington. Her mother, Barbara Grossman of Franklin, later went to law school and now specializes in workers' compensation cases. Elizabeth spent a lot of time in her youth gathering petition signatures for progressive causes. "I've always had an opinion about everything," she says. The family lived in Royal Oak and Troy until the Grossmans got divorced. Elizabeth majored in women's studies at U-M before entering law school. During the summer, she worked for the National Abortion Rights Action League and the Women's Rights Unit of the American Civil Liberties Union. "With her background, and her cur- Grossman, 37, realizes she could be earning much more in private law prac- tice, "but I'd rather be doing this, help- ing to solve society's problems," she says. "Feeling like you're doing the right thing 100 percent of the time is great. I'm always working on something that I believe in. The law is a way of uals and groups against small achieving social change, and mom-and-pop" companies you can do it either from and corporate giants like inside the system or outside." Morgan Stanley, The EEOC office has 25 Woolworth's, TWA and Bell employees in lower Atlantic. Her EEOC office Manhattan, including investi- takes on about 50 cases a gators and other lawyers. year involving discrimination Grossman praises their efforts against workers for reasons of on the Morgan Stanley case race, sex, age, national origin, Grossman that required almost five years religion or disability. of work. Grossman is acting regional attorney, The commission, which evolved from supervising 17 other EEOC attorneys in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, seems to the Manhattan office. attract many tenacious lawyers like She has handled dozens of cases, earn- Grossman, who were apparently born to ing a salary in the low six figures and take on corporate America. "We take making no commissions, regardless of cases based on their merit, just like run- the court's verdict in the case or the set- ning a regular business," she explained. dement. About 95 percent of the cases "Some cases, of course, might have no are settled without a trial, and Grossman merit at all — the employer did nothing often is disappointed she can't plead the wrong, and the case is dropped. But we case in court. prevail most of the time." ,, "But I'm happy with the outcome, "Elizabeth was smart, well rounded, she says. "If a company is willing to set- and was always interested in women's tle, we don't push the law." Workers' Champion Ex-Detroiter goes after big business for EEOC. BILL CARROLL Special to the Jewish News S eeking a job with an upscale clothing company in New York, a Jewish woman was offered the position. Then she told them she would have to leave early on Fridays, especially during winter, to prepare for the Sabbath. The job offer was withdrawn. The woman sued for religious discrimination and received $20,000 in a settlement. The amount was a drop in the bucket by Elizabeth Grossman's usual standards, but she's just as proud of the woman's victory as she is, for example, of the $54 million she helped 340 women win in a settlement from the Morgan Stanley securities firm in a sex-discrimination case last July. As a lawyer for the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in New York for 12 years, Grossman, who grew up in the Detroit Jewish com- munity, has battled on behalf of individ- 7, Have failing grades? Working to your potential? Po sapper HAGOPIAN 5 q Grades Learn how to be a successful student, understand the `J "System," and create your plan for success! For Information: K. McClain, Ed. S. 734-416-1460 www.power-zapper.com Get your Cleaning done today! 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