$100 Million Sex-Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Novartis

Novartis is facing a $100 million sex-discrimination lawsuit initiated by 12 former and current employees who claim the company has a "systematic pattern" of discriminating against women.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, contends that the 12 female employees experienced "discriminatory policies, practices or procedures in selection, promotion and advancement, disparate pay, differential treatment and gender hostility in the workplace." The plaintiffs worked under different supervisors at Novartis sites in 12 different states.

Filed by Armonk, N.Y.-based law firm Sanford, Wittels & Heisler, the suit seeks relief on behalf of all females currently or formerly employed by Novartis who have experienced gender discrimination at any time during the applicable liability period, according to the lawsuit.

The women are seeking "declaratory and injunctive relief; back pay; front pay; compensatory, nominal and punitive damages; and attorneys' fees, costs and expenses to redress Novartis' pervasive and discriminatory employment policies, practices and/or procedures," according to the suit.