Abbott slapped with $4m loss in age discrimination suit

A jury in Puerto Rico yesterday slapped Abbott (NYSE:ABT) with a $4 million loss in an age discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee there.

Luz González Bermúdez sued Abbott and manager Kim Pérez in August 2014, alleging age discrimination after her transfer from Abbott’s Health Care Professional unit to its marketing group under Pérez.

González, who started at Abbott in 1984, claimed that Abbott and Pérez, who is about 10 years younger than González, treated her in a hostile manner because of her age and dealt with her differently than with other, younger employees, according to court documents. Although both held the same pay grade and González had more seniority than Pérez, González was eventually demoted to position with a pay grade.

González also alleged that she was passed over in favor of younger candidates from inside and outside the company for positions that would have advanced her pay grade. She filed formal complaints with Abbott and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to the documents.

A jury in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico deliberated for 2 days after a 5-day trial, finding for González and awarding her $250,000 in back pay. The jury also found that Abbott discriminated against her because of her age, awarding $3 million in compensatory damages and another $1 million for age discrimination on the part of Pérez.

Lawyers for González plan to file a motion tomorrow asking for double damages and equitable relief, according to the documents.

The post Abbott slapped with $4m loss in age discrimination suit appeared first on MassDevice.

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