January 10, 2013 at 12:44 p.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI - A discrimination suit between Corpus Christi and the federal government skidded to a halt Wednesday when the judge allowed police association members to be included in settlement negotiations.

City and federal officials were in U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos' court for a preliminary approval of settlement terms regarding the police department's hiring of 18 female officers.

President of police association Sgt. Mike Staff attended the hearing and brought up the union's issues with the settlement, which include that the union was not included in negotiations and that giving those women back dated seniority violates the department's contract.