Lawyer accepts multi million pound settlement in sexual discrimination case

UK lawyer Gillian Switalski, 53, had demanded a record £19million in compensation for alleged intimidation and sexual discrimination at the hands of her former employer – F&C Asset Management. The proceedings have been dropped after a long and bloody battle ended in a multi-million pound out of court settlement, which requires that Ms Switalski make no further damaging allegations about the City finance company. Ms Switalski was F&C's head of legal affairs, was voted one of Britain's top 100 lawyers and ran two businesses in her spare time. She told the employment tribunal that she had been reduced to an emotional wreck, and was unable to work, after 18 months of bullying and harassment. A series of tribunals heard claims that Ms Switalski’s manager had become 'fixated' with her working hours, holidays and expenses. Ms Switalski had attended a work meeting within days of undergoing surgery in 2006, while still carrying a post-operative drain in a bag. Her working hours were continually questioned, despite an agreement that she work flexible hours so she could care for her two disabled sons. When her mother died suddenly in 2006, she was sent an email demanding to see a death certificate in order to justify the cancellation of a work trip to the US. A tribunal ruled in her favour in 2008 but F&C continued to fight the claim in a series of appeals and reviews. Ms Switalski’s lawyers claimed that F&C was deliberately dragging out the legal proceedings in an effort to drain her of financial resources so that she could no longer afford the contest. F&C said: 'This matter has been resolved and all claims have been withdrawn.'

Lawyer accepts multi million pound settlement in sexual discrimination case dailymail.co.uk Tue, Mar 16, 2010