A former attorney with the Directors Guild of America has brought suit in a California court against her former employers alleging wrongful termination.
The lawyer, who said she was paid far less than a male colleague, alleges she was terminated after making a complaint about the difference in pay, which can be attributed to gender discrimination. Her suit also says that she is a victim of retaliation by her former employer.
According to the information contained in the lawsuit, the woman said she was paid over $56,000 less in 2008 and $74,000 less in 2009 than her male counterpart. The suit further insists that even though the male lawyer had a more senior job title than the plaintiff, both lawyers performed essentially the same tasks.
In examining certain documents filed by the Directors Guild with the U.S. Department of Labor, she found evidence that male employees were paid at a higher rate than female employees. The woman states her employer retaliated by terminating her about a month after a confrontation about the pay disparity. The woman claimed her supervisor questioned her as to why she was reviewing the documents filed with the Labor Department.
After being fired and before her last day on the job, she did apply for a transfer to a position in another unit which was denied. A male lawyer who was allegedly less qualified was hired to fill that position. The complaint cites this action as evidence of ongoing discriminatory behavior on the part of her employer.
The lawsuit was filed more than a year after the fact making it likely that parts of the suit may be challenged in court. California law requires discrimination claims be filed within one year of the date the unlawful practice occurred.
Source: THR, Esq., “Former DGA Lawyer Sues Guild for Gender Discrimination,” Jonathan Handel, Aug. 8, 2011