Jury returns $250 Million Punitive Damages Verdict in Gender Class Action Against Novartis

A federal Jury in Manhattan handed down a $250 million punitive damages verdict against drug maker Novartis. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=aIFrBtReIhKs.  This, just two days after the jury returned a verdict in favor of the 5,600 member class of female employees on all three counts of gender discrimination.  The class alleged, and the jury found, that Novartis discriminated against female employees in the terms and conditions of their employment, including disparate pay and promotional opportunities.  The staggering punitive damages award s believed to represent 3% of Novartis' 2009 net income.