Discrimination lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch will go forward

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - A Missouri appeals court has ruled that a gender discrimination lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch can go to trial.

It's a case that Anheuser-Busch wanted to handle outside the courtroom.

Francine Katz – once AB’s top female executive – sued the company in 2009, alleging that she had been systematically paid less than her male predecessor.

AB argued that several clauses in her contract required that the lawsuit be handled in arbitration. A trial court said no – saying that Katz had never agreed to one clause and that a second clause was invalidated when Belgian company In-Bev took over AB in 2008.

The appeals court agreed with the lower court ruling.

Katz’s attorney called the ruling “gratifying.” AB did not return calls for comment, but has said in the past that the Katz was paid fairly.

Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

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