A jury has awarded a local mother more than $185 million in damages in a pregnancy and gender discrimination case against her former employer AutoZone.
"I cry constantly because someone had heard my story," said Rosario Juarez, choking back tears. "Someone has heard and knows what I said was true."
An emotional Juarez talked about a staggering court victory over her former employer. Her saga first began in 2005. Juarez, the store manager for a year at an AutoZone in National City, says she told her district manager she was pregnant and received an odd response.
"He said, 'I feel sorry for you. Congratulations.' And he didn't say it in a positive tone, but a frustrated and upset tone," said Juarez.
She says her assigned list of tasks doubled after she became pregnant, including redoing displays that did not need to be redone. Even though she met all her sales targets, she says the district manager constantly berated her.
"He was constantly telling me, 'You can't handle it. You can't perform under your situation,'" said Juarez.
Months after she revealed she was pregnant, she was demoted. A year later, she filed a complaint with the state. The next year, she was fired.
Juarez filed a civil suit with a string of allegations, including wrongful termination, pregnancy and gender discrimination.
During the trial, her lawyers called a former district manager – an ordained minister – who described a meeting with high-level executives rejoicing over the expiration of a previous settlement agreement requiring AutoZone to promote women and track it.
The agreement attached to Chief Auto Parts transferred to AutoZone after it purchased the company.
"Specifically, it was said to this district manager, women weren't worth a (expletive) to AutoZone. He was offered a promotion if he fired all the women at his stores," said attorney Lawrence Bohm.
That is one piece of the evidence that swayed a jury.
On Monday, it awarded Juarez a stunning $185 million in punitive damages. On Friday, the same jury awarded her nearly $900,000 in compensatory damages.
"Punitive damages at this level send a clear message to the board of directors: pay attention," said Bohm.
Juarez said, "I'm hoping they got the message loud and clear so they don't do it to any other female."
The $185 million amount is $25 million more than Juarez's attorneys asked for. AutoZone says they plan to appeal, but declined any further comment.
Jury awards mother more than $185M in damages in pregnancy discrimination case against AutoZone - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego
"I cry constantly because someone had heard my story," said Rosario Juarez, choking back tears. "Someone has heard and knows what I said was true."
An emotional Juarez talked about a staggering court victory over her former employer. Her saga first began in 2005. Juarez, the store manager for a year at an AutoZone in National City, says she told her district manager she was pregnant and received an odd response.
"He said, 'I feel sorry for you. Congratulations.' And he didn't say it in a positive tone, but a frustrated and upset tone," said Juarez.
She says her assigned list of tasks doubled after she became pregnant, including redoing displays that did not need to be redone. Even though she met all her sales targets, she says the district manager constantly berated her.
"He was constantly telling me, 'You can't handle it. You can't perform under your situation,'" said Juarez.
Months after she revealed she was pregnant, she was demoted. A year later, she filed a complaint with the state. The next year, she was fired.
Juarez filed a civil suit with a string of allegations, including wrongful termination, pregnancy and gender discrimination.
During the trial, her lawyers called a former district manager – an ordained minister – who described a meeting with high-level executives rejoicing over the expiration of a previous settlement agreement requiring AutoZone to promote women and track it.
The agreement attached to Chief Auto Parts transferred to AutoZone after it purchased the company.
"Specifically, it was said to this district manager, women weren't worth a (expletive) to AutoZone. He was offered a promotion if he fired all the women at his stores," said attorney Lawrence Bohm.
That is one piece of the evidence that swayed a jury.
On Monday, it awarded Juarez a stunning $185 million in punitive damages. On Friday, the same jury awarded her nearly $900,000 in compensatory damages.
"Punitive damages at this level send a clear message to the board of directors: pay attention," said Bohm.
Juarez said, "I'm hoping they got the message loud and clear so they don't do it to any other female."
The $185 million amount is $25 million more than Juarez's attorneys asked for. AutoZone says they plan to appeal, but declined any further comment.
Jury awards mother more than $185M in damages in pregnancy discrimination case against AutoZone - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego