Filmmaker George Lucas’ company loses California pregnancy bias lawsuit
By APThursday, July 1, 2010
Lucasfilm loses pregnancy lawsuit in California
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The company founded by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas has lost a pregnancy bias suit filed by a woman whose job offer was withdrawn when she disclosed she was having a baby.
A jury in Northern California on Wednesday awarded Julie Veronese $113,800 in damages.
Lucasfilm Ltd. denies it discriminated against the 37-year-old woman, saying its decision in 2008 to withdraw the offer of a 30-day job as a manager at Lucas’ San Anselmo estate was for reasons unrelated to her pregnancy.
But the jury decided Veronese should get $93,800 for lost wages and $20,000 for emotional distress. It rejected a request for punitive damages.
The woman’s lawyer says she will ask for up to $1.2 million in attorney fees from Lucasfilm.
Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, www.sfgate.com/chronicle
