Top Mass. Court OKs $1M in Punitives for Fired Wal-Mart Pharmacist

A former Wal-Mart pharmacist who contended she was fired on a trumped-up disciplinary charge after she complained she was paid less than male counterparts by the giant retailer is entitled to $1 million in punitive damages, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts decided yesterday. Its opinion upheld the trial judge's decision to halve the original $2 million in punitives awarded by a jury.

The appellate court also upheld an additional award of more than $700,000 in compensatory damages to Cynthia Haddad, reports the Boston Globe.

“There was evidence that Wal-Mart paid the plaintiff substantially less than less-experienced male pharmacists, refused to pay the plaintiff the pharmacy manager salary differential that it paid to male pharmacists, and terminated the plaintiff purportedly for a single policy violation,’’ writes Justice Judith Cowin in the court’s unanimous opinion.

A Wal-Mart spokeswoman tells the newspaper that the company is disappointed by the decision and says the retailer has strong anti-discrimination policies and fosters female leadership.

Additional coverage:

Berkshire Eagle: "Local woman beats Wal-Mart"

BBC News: "Fired worker wins Wal-Mart case "