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A second gender discrimination case is unfolding against the University of Montana in Missoula County District Court.

In July, former UM Dining employee Rebecca "Becca" Shern filed a complaint against UM alleging gender discrimination and negligent supervision, accusations that came a couple of months after another former staff member in the same department filed a similar lawsuit.

Shern, who was employed at UM from 2007 to 2016, alleged that former UM Dining Director Mark LoParco created a hostile work environment, failed to pay her a fair wage and unfairly demoted her. The court filing said "UM management" was aware of the treatment Shern was receiving and caused her injuries.

"UM knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care should have known, of LoParco's unfitness at the time he engaged in wrongful conduct," the complaint said.

LoParco retired in May after 25 years as head of UM Dining and had been honored on campus for his work in sustainability and also by a national association for his leadership in the collegiate food industry.