Jury sides with Anheuser-Busch on discrimination claims

Jessica Machetta//May 23, 2014//

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A St. Louis jury ruled against a former executive at Anheuser-Busch on claims that the brewer had paid her less than her male predecessor.

In a high-profile lawsuit filed in 2009, Francine Katz said she was paid a little more than half of what her male predecessor made as a member of the Anheuser-Busch Strategy Committee.

As vice president of communications and consumer affairs, Katz made more than $1 million annually, but found that was less than each of her male counterparts when she was reviewing a regulatory filing tied to the InBev purchase of the brewing giant in 2008.

Another member of that committee, Marlene Coulis, testified that she, too, was paid less than her male colleagues.

Anheuser-Busch argued that Katz’s role was not the same as that of John Jacob, who was former CEO August Busch III’s closest adviser.

Mary Anne Sedey, Katz’s attorney, says she was not surprised by the verdict in favor of the defendant. Sedey said the case was one of the biggest sex-discrimination pay-claim cases she has taken on in 35 years of employment practice. It was unusual in that it involved someone from such a high level in a corporation.

“We would have been happy if the outcome were different,” Sedey said. “But we’re trial lawyers, you know, it’s a bit of a crapshoot. You have to be prepared either way.”

Gabriel Gore, of Dowd Bennett, an attorney for Anheuser-Busch, declined to comment. In a written statement issued after the verdict was announced, Anheuser-Busch said the company “always has been and always will be committed to treating our employees fairly and consistent with the highest standards.”

“We are pleased with today’s verdict, and the jury’s acknowledgment that Francine Katz was always treated and compensated fairly during her 20 years of employment at Anheuser-Busch,” the company said.

No settlement was sought before the case went to trial.

“That’s an important thing about this case,” Sedey said. “There was no demand made by us, and there was no offer by them. We set about this five years ago to have a clear, transparent exposition of what happens at Anheuser-Busch, and that was always Mrs. Katz’s objective, and so that was just as important to us as winning or losing.”

The first few years of the case were spent arguing for whether the case could go to a jury trial rather than arbitrate the claim. After a lengthy appeal, the case was allowed to proceed to trial.

Sedey said she and Katz have not yet decided whether they will appeal the decision.

“We knew we were in this case to try it, not to settle it,” Sedey said. “Francine really wanted people to see what happened to her and what happened to women at Anheuser-Busch at that very top level. And so that’s the success. That’s what we did, and we’re proud to have done it.”

Defense verdict