A Novartis AG pharmaceuticals unit discriminated against female sales representatives in the U.S. and must pay $3.4 million to a dozen women plus punitive damages to be decided, a federal jury found.

The jury in Manhattan federal court reached its decision yesterday after a monthlong trial of a class-action lawsuit on claims of discrimination against women at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. unit of Europe’s second-largest drugmaker. The nine jurors’ award to the women for lost pay and other damages came in the first stage of deliberations. The panel will decide on the amount of punitive damages.

The women are part of the Basel, Switzerland-based company’s 14,000-member workforce in the U.S. They’ve said they’re seeking about $200 million in punitive damages. Jurors found that Novartis discriminated against women over pay and promotion and because they got pregnant.

“Novartis has been involved in systemic discrimination since 2002,” David Sanford, a lawyer for the women, said in an interview after the verdict. “The verdict supports the claims of 5,600 women.”

Novartis said in a statement that it is disappointed in the verdict and plans to appeal.

“We believe the plaintiffs’ claims were unfounded,” the company said, adding that it has been “recognized for its commitment to an inclusive environment.”

via Novartis Must Pay Punitive Damages in Sex-Bias Case, Jury Rules – Bloomberg.com.