After deliberating for less than three hours, a federal jury in New Hampshire ordered Walmart to pay $31.22 million to a pharmacist who claims she was fired because of her gender, according to Reuters.
Maureen McPadden was fired from Walmart in 2012 after more than 13 years at the retailer. Ms. McPadden claimed Walmart used her loss of a pharmacy key as a pretext for firing her. She further alleged gender played a role in that decision, as Walmart later disciplined a male pharmacist in New Hampshire who also lost his pharmacy key but did not fire him.
Ms. McPadden also claims Walmart retaliated against her for raising concerns about inadequate staffing at the Walmart store in Seabrook, N.H., where she worked. She said she feared customers were getting prescriptions filled improperly because of the low staffing levels, according to the report.
After a five-day trial, the jury awarded Ms. McPadden $31.22 million, including $15 million of punitive damages.
This is not the end of the road for the case, as Walmart plans to ask the trial judge to throw out the verdict or reduce the damages award, according to the report.
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