Posted March 3rd, 2011. As it appeared in BestWeek BOSTON March 03 (BestWire) — A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed by a female employee of Cigna Health Care, alleging discriminatory employment practices and seeking at least $100 million in damages. Filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, Bretta Karp, a long-time Cigna provider contracting manager, sued the company on…
Partner Kate Kimpel has co-authored a compelling amicus brief in the Wal-Mart discrimination suit – the largest civil rights class action in the nation’s history. The bellweather US Supreme Court case has far-reaching consequences for workers’ rights. Kimpel and her co-authors from the National Partnership for Women & Families argue that size of the plaintiff class should not be a…
A federal district court in New York July 14 granted preliminary approval to a $175 million agreement between Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. and a nationwide class of female current and former sales employees to settle claims of systemic sex bias in pay, promotions, and pregnancy leave (Velez v. Novartis Pharm. Corp., S.D.N.Y., No. 04-9194, order preliminarily approving settlement 7/14/10). Novartis has…
Posted July 14th, 2010. As it appeared in the Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Novartis has agreed to pay $152.5 million to settle claims that it discriminated against women by paying them less than men. The settlement was announced Wednesday by the pharmaceutical company and lawyers for the plaintiffs. It calls for an additional $22.5 million to be paid…
The 2nd Circuit ruled yesterday that Novartis AG’s sales representatives merit overtime and are covered by federal wage-and-hour laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Plaintiffs claimed they were underpaid because they were denied time-and-a-half for each hour worked over 40 hours per week from 2000 to 2007. FLSA requires that employees be paid overtime for more than 40…
NEW YORK—A federal jury May 17 found Novartis Corp. liable for sex discrimination against a nationwide class of female sales representatives, awarding some $3.4 million for emotional damages to 12 plaintiffs who testified as witnesses in the case (Velez v. Novartis Corp., S.D.N.Y., No. 04 Civ. 9194, jury verdict 5/17/10). The jury in U.S. District Court for the Southern District…
Posted March 8th, 2010. LADY HARDHAT Bianca Wisniewski wouldn’t back down from a fight — and neither will hertwodaughters. The teenage girls, devastated when their mother died five months ago in a fire, are determined to finish her last battle: a $20 million sexual harassment suit against her former bosses. “My mom had the courage to stand up for herself…
Whirlpool Corp. is in more hot water for alleged racial discrimination at a Tennessee facility that’s landed the company in court three times in the last year — twice before the same federal appellate court — and cost it more than $1 million in damages. Most recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit on Jan. 26 revived…
Lawsuit Seeking $100 Million Claims UPS Denies Account Managers Overtime Pay Aproposed collective and class action lawsuit filed Aug. 19 seeks $100 million in unpaid compensation and damages on claims that United Parcel Service Inc. has failed to pay overtime compensation to at least 100 account managers in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and California state laws (Meza…
HOUSTON – (Dow Jones)- A federal class-action lawsuit was filed Monday against Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) accusing the company of underpaying and overworking convenience-store employees. The lawsuit could result in a judgment of up to $100 million, according to Steven Wittels, attorney for the plaintiffs, of Sanford Wittels & Heisler LLP. Valero’s attorneys could not be immediately reached for comment.…