Second former female exec sues Booz Allen
Booz Allen Hamilton is being hit with a second lawsuit in two months from a former female partner who says her termination was a result of sex discrimination.
On the heels on a sex discrimination case brought upon Booz Allen Hamilton by its former highest-performing female executive, a second civil action has cropped up today filed by another partner, Dr. Margo Fitzpatrick, a specialist in civil finance markets, who joined the firm in 1999.
According to court documents, the plaintiff is suing for discriminatory and retaliatory termination "on the basis of her gender, sexual orientation and ...in violation of the Human Rights Act." The preliminary court statement adds that the senior executives at the firm have "maintained a 'glass ceiling' that intentionally excludes highly-qualified women, like Dr. Fitzpatrick, from the top echelons of the firm."
Before August 2009, Fitzpatrick was assessed as "on track" for promotion and during the period of fiscal year 2008 through 2010, she brought in more than $588.5 million in new business for the company, the court documents said.
In a statement posted on the Legal Times Blog, Booz Allen spokeswoman Marie Lerch said that while company does not comment on individual personnel matters, it denies Fitzpatrick’s allegations and intends to contest the claims through the litigation process.
“Booz Allen has a performance-based culture that is rigorous at the partner level, and decisions are made based on merit, not gender,” Lerch said.
Last week Washington Technology reported that Molly Finn, a 24-year veteran with the company and once its highest-ranking female employee, filed on July 27 a sex discrimination suit in Superior Court of Washington, D.C.'s civil division, against the company and three other individuals, including Ralph Shrader, the company chairman and CEO.