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Court says female workers can pursue class-action lawsuit
By Jim Mackinnon
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Thursday, Jun 04, 2009
Current and former Sterling Jewelers Inc. female employees might be able to turn a pay and promotion discrimination case against the Akron-based company into a class-action lawsuit following a federal court ruling on Monday.
The ruling from the Southern District of New York sets the stage for pursuing a class-action lawsuit against Sterling, according to one of the lead lawyers representing the claimants.
An arbitrator ruled against Sterling Jewelers' arguments that an agreement signed by employees prohibited them from taking disputes to a class-action lawsuit, said Joseph Sellers with the firm Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC.
The dispute is not at the stage for a trial, Sellers said.
Sterling Jewelers has 30 days to appeal Monday's ruling.
The lawsuit alleges that Sterling Jewelers discriminated against its female employees in pay and promotions dating back to 2003.
The suit grew out of complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC alleged systemic sex discrimination in pay and promotions across more than 1,400 stores run by Sterling.
A Sterling Jewelers spokesman said the company continues to believe the charges are invalid.
''Earlier this week, the arbitrator ruled that arbitration agreements re
lated to alternative resolution systems, 'cannot be construed to prohibit class arbitration.' '' said David Bouffard, vice president of public relations.
''This is a procedural ruling only and is not related to the merits of the case. There are likely to be many more procedural issues and rulings in the future. We want to reiterate that we take the allegations raised in this lawsuit very seriously,'' Bouffard said.
''We are confident that these charges do not reflect the culture of this company. Fairness, opportunity, integrity and respect are core values at Sterling. When these allegations first surfaced, we investigated those claims. That investigation failed to substantiate the allegations. Therefore, we do not believe these charges are valid. We will defend ourselves vigorously against whatever legal action arises.''
The company, a division of British-owned Signet Group, operates stores under Jared, Kay Jewelers and other names.
Jim Mackinnon can be reached at 330-996-3544 or jmackinnon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Current and former Sterling Jewelers Inc. female employees might be able to turn a pay and promotion discrimination case against the Akron-based company into a class-action lawsuit following a federal court ruling on Monday.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 11:07 AM, 06/04/2009
If we don't labor-price our companies out of NE Ohio, we'll sue them out. Either way I guess we don't like jobs here in NE Ohio!
Akron, Oh
Posted 05:39 PM, 06/04/2009
Sterling hires the areas most loony people. You have to have a major personality disorder to be allowed to work there.
Barberton, OH
Posted 09:38 PM, 06/04/2009
Sterling hires the areas most loony people. You have to have a major personality disorder to be allowed to work there
REally bilbo? Maybe that's why I didn't get hired there...I'm too "normal". lol!
AKRON, ohio
Posted 10:17 AM, 06/05/2009
Sterling is a HUGE scam, kind of like Fred Martin Ford or Rev. Ernest Angley. I wouldn't buy anything from them if my life depended on it.
Seattle, Wa
Posted 01:45 PM, 06/05/2009
Wow! Totally agree with the need for personality disorder. I've actually heard of one female employee who left in tears, part of management no less. Her manager was harrassing her, with sexual comments, then when she complained to their District manager, and was assured of not being targeted, they told the manager who she was and what she said, and the attacks increased. After she quit, everyone said "problem solved"
Akron, OH
Posted 09:28 AM, 06/06/2009
I might buy that there are some bizarre personalities over there, but you better be the best at what you do to work there, unless you are you won't make their standards. Continuous improvement is the expectation throughout.
This lawsuit, however, is complete B***S***. The only reason lawyers can get together and come up with a scam like this is because Sterling hires and invests in women. How many women have been promoted through the ranks and development programs. That company is loaded with women executives, managers, etc.
And the ABJ should be ashamed of perpetuating this garbage about a local company. Why don't they print any good news? Sterling just announced 1st quarter performance Thursday and outperformed the industry, did that make the news? Nope.
What about the huge sum of money they raised last month for American Cancer Society, or Akron Childrens Hospital. They brought Jane Seymour to Akron a couple of weeks ago. How about the fund they started 'Sterling helping Sterling' through the Salvation Army to help their employees families who may impacted by hardship or tragedy? Does the ABJ print anything but negative news about anyone? For years the ABJ has dissed local business, radio stations, show hosts. What do we get from this paper?
Elkhart, In
Posted 11:41 AM, 06/08/2009
This lawsuit is not BS! Anyone who thinks Sterling does all the things they do for charity out of the goodness of their hearts is nuts! They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk and that is where it counts, not when you are doing it for publicity or to gain in profits.
