Female attorneys have now won the go-ahead for a class action suit against an insurer over allegations of gender discrimination.
The suit, filed originally on behalf of attorney Lynne Coates, alleges that female lawyers working for
Farmers Insurance were systematically paid less than male counterparts with “decades less” experience.
A total to 12 former and current Farmers attorneys have now put their name to the suit.
“Having considered the parties’ arguments, the relevant law, and the record in this case, the Court grants Coates’s motion for conditional collective action certification, and authorized notice to potential similarly situated class members,” writes U.S. District judge for the Northern California Lucy Koh writes in her decision to confer class action status.
Coates's case and her allegations have galvanized support among many attorneys at the insurer. She, a California resident, worked in the legal office of Farmers’ San Jose branch, both as a full-time employee and as a contract worker.
A lawyer representing the class action, argues the suit will help to rectify any alleged discrimination.
“The question the Court decided today, is simply whether Lynne Coates is similarly situated to the other female attorneys she stood up on behalf of,” said Lori Andrus of Andrus Anderson LLP. “The standard is easily met and we’re pleased to read Judge Koh’s thorough analysis. She seems to recognize that Farmers runs its business in a centralized fashion and the taint of gender discrimination ripples through every branch office.”
