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SJC Upholds $2 Million Verdict Against Wal-Mart

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Oct 6, 2009 7:51 am US/Eastern

SJC Upholds $2 Million Verdict Against Wal-Mart

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Reporting
Eileen Curran
BOSTON (WBZ) ― The state's highest court has upheld a $2 million jury award to a former Wal-Mart pharmacist.

Cynthia Haddad, who had worked at the Pittsfield Wal-Mart for ten years, said she was fired for asking to be paid the same as her male colleagues.

Wal-Mart claimed she was fired for violating company policy.

In 2007, a jury agreed with Haddad and awarded her the multi-million dollar settlement.

Wal-Mart appealed the decision and now the Supreme Judicial Court has ruled in favor of Haddad.

"She is absolutely overwhelmed by this whole process," said Haddad's lawyer, Richard Fradette.

While Haddad is overwhelmed, pay equity advocates are elated.

"I'm thrilled," said Linda Brantley, former executive director of the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women.

She's been on the front lines of the pay equity battle for years.

"I think this case will have significant ramifications not only in Massachusetts, but nationally."

Brantley hopes this will encourage other women in the same situation to come forward.

Boston student Gretchen Lafond thinks it will.

"I think if you don't speak out about it, it's just going to stay the same" she said.

But Dana Toigo, a medical worker from Phoenix, thinks speaking out still might be difficult.

"The thing is, it's such a private issue," she said.

"I don't know if people are going to say this is how much I'm making compared to what you're making."

A Wal-Mart spokesperson says the company is disappointed by the ruling and insists Wal-Mart has strong equal employment opportunities and promotes female leadership.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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