The Washington federal court denied the company’s request to limit or slow down a class action lawsuit challenging discrimination against women in the first-ever equal pay class action against Amazon.
Seattle, WA – The lawsuit against Amazon, which is the first-ever equal pay class action against the tech giant, cleared a major hurdle after a Washington federal court denied Amazon’s motion to dismiss or stay the lawsuit on December 12, 2024. The milestone comes after the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint alleging that Amazon has engaged in widespread underpayment of women.
“This judgment marks an important step toward justice for Amazon’s unfair and unlawful treatment of us all,” said Caroline Wilmuth, one of the three plaintiffs in the lawsuit. “The judge’s ruling is deeply validating and I am grateful for the opportunity to have our voices heard. Since filing this lawsuit, my conviction that it was the right thing to do has only strengthened—not just for us, but for all the other women at Amazon who have faced similar mistreatment.”
According to the complaint, Amazon systematically assigns women lower job codes than it does for men, resulting in Amazon underpaying women compared to men performing similar work. The practice of underpaying women for the same work is familiar in the tech industry.
“Today’s ruling is a step in the right direction for women at Amazon getting the fair treatment they deserve,” said Cassandra Lenning, partner at Outten & Golden LLP and attorney for the plaintiffs. “I’m so proud of our clients for courageously shining a light on gender pay inequity issues at Amazon and in this industry.”
Judge Jamal N. Whitehead of the Western District of Washington found that two recent cases “show that Plaintiffs’ theory of liability is suitable for class treatment.” Those cases – against Google and Disney in California courts – were recently certified as class actions asserting gender discrimination and pay equity claims similar to those in this case. The Court emphasized that its duty is to interpret antidiscrimination laws “broadly” and “the statute means what it says.”
In the plaintiffs’ amended complaint, Caroline Wilmuth, Katherine Schomer, and Erin Combs also allege that Amazon retaliated against them after they first filed their lawsuit in November 2023. Specifically, it claims that Amazon created disruptive and increasingly hostile conditions for the plaintiffs to push them out of the company or force them to resign.
“After devoting years of my career to Amazon, I was shocked when the company actively retaliated against me after advocating for my team that we were underpaid compared to our male peers,” said Katherine Schomer, one of the plaintiffs. “I’m happy that our claims will be moving forward to ensure pay equity throughout the company.”
“For more than a year, we proactively tried to find a resolution to the pay and treatment disparities we experienced but Amazon refused to take its problems seriously. Filing a lawsuit was our last resort,”said plaintiff Erin Combs. “This experience has been difficult, but I am hopeful today’s ruling is a step toward real systemic change at Amazon so other women can get fairly paid and promoted, and they don’t have to endure what we’ve been through.”
The proposed class action was first brought on November 20, 2023, in the Western District of Washington in Seattle.
The plaintiffs are represented by Jahan C. Sagafi, Cassandra W. Lenning, Menaka N. Fernando, Chauniqua Young, Michael Danna, Lindsay M. Goldbrum and Jennifer Davidson of Outten & Golden LLP.
For current or former employees of Amazon looking for more information about how they can participate in this class action, you can find that information here.
About Outten & Golden LLP
Outten & Golden LLP is one of the largest U.S. law firms dedicated to the representation of employees. With offices in New York City, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., the firm has taken on many of the country’s largest and most powerful employers, forging landmark settlements and historic verdicts that contribute to a more equitable workplace. As a mission-driven firm, O&G uses litigation and other means to expand the rights of all employees to fair wages and working conditions, and a workplace free of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Learn more at www.outtengolden.com.