Attorneys Mary-Jo Rebelo and Courtney C. Brennan obtained a defense verdict on behalf of a privately-owned company who is a leading global provider in the plastics manufacturing business in a gender discrimination case in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Plaintiff claimed that as an employee, she was treated less favorably than the male managers and terminated because of her gender in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). She specifically alleged that four different individuals discriminated against her because of her gender.
The defense witnesses explained that plaintiff was promoted to a manager position over all of the male candidates in the hopes that she would succeed as a manager. The testimony showed that the company’s leadership team continuously counseled plaintiff during her tenure with the company on how to improve her communication skills, her relationships with co-workers, customers, vendors, and technical skills. Despite the efforts, plaintiff was ultimately terminated for behavior unbecoming a manger.
At the conclusion of the four day trial before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge, the jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the defendant, finding no evidence of unlawful gender discrimination under Title VII and the PHRA.