NYC jury awards $250M in punitive damages in Novartis discrimination case
By Larry Neumeister, APWednesday, May 19, 2010
NYC jury awards $250M in Novartis case
NEW YORK — The New York City jury that found drug company Novartis AG discriminated against women has awarded $250 million in punitive damages.
The award was determined Wednesday in Manhattan federal court.
On Tuesday, a lawyer for past and current female employees had urged the jury to award up to $285 million in punitive damages.
A day earlier, the same jury concluded that the company discriminated against its female work force.
The women allege that Novartis had disrespected its female workers by paying them less than men, promoting fewer of them and allowing a hostile workplace dominated by an old boys’ network to flourish.
Novartis lawyers declined to comment.
The attorney for the plaintiffs, David Sanford, says the women are delighted.
