Sex Discrimination Class Action Against Novartis
The drug company Novartis AG will have to defend itself against sex-discrimination claims brought by a group of female sales employees in a $100 million class-action lawsuit, a federal judge has ruled.
The class action is brought by 19 current and former employees in sales-related positions.
The judge certified, as a class, women who hold or have held a sales-related job at the pharmaceuticals unit from July 15, 2002, to present, including sales representatives, sales consultants, sales associates and some district managers.
In his order, the judge also granted a request to dismiss claims against Novartis Corp., the pharmaceutical unit's U.S. parent.
The lawsuit, which originally was filed in 2004, had alleged the Novartis unit was discriminatory in its pay, promotions, evaluations and treatment of women who take pregnancy leave. The complaint is seeking at least $100 million in damages and back pay.
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