Ellen Pao Demands $3.5 Million Not To Appeal The Gender Discrimination Case

Ellen Pao, who lost the gender discrimination trial against Kleiner Perkins has allegedly asked for $3.55 million (USD 2.7 million) to cover her legal fees. She would refrain from appealing the case in return for money. Kleiner Perkins have told the San Francisco Superior court that it was opposed to reducing the litigation costs that Pao owns them after losing the gender discrimination suit against the company.

Pao, the interim CEO of Reddit Inc. had brought a gender discrimination law suit against Kleiner Perkins. She alleged that she was passed over for promotions and excluded from meetings because of her gender, reports TechCrunch. She said that the company resembled an old boys club and did not encourage diversity among the ranks. Pao also alleged that her affair with her colleague had resulted in retaliation from the company.

The jury sided with Kleiner Perkins and found that there was no merit in Pao’s arguments. Pao was supposed to pay the trial costs which amounted to over $1.31 million including $800,000 in expert witness fees and $60,000 in deposition costs. Pao had submitted that Kleiner’s bills excessive and unreasonable. Kleiner Perkins has opposed Pao’s move to reduce the litigation costs and has noted that she had rejected its offer for an out of court settlement. It also filed that Pao had asked the company for $3.2 million in post trial fees and costs in exchange of not foiling an appeal.

“Pao cannot run up KPCB's costs through an onslaught of allegations and discovery, and then object when she receives the bill,” argued Kleiner Perkins lawyers, reports Ars Technica. It also argued that Pao made $200,000 annually as the CEO of Reddit and owned multiple residences with her husband and therefore could afford to pay for the costs.

Pao had become a poster girl in her fight against gender discrimination which is prevalent in the Silicon Valley companies. But her recent demand for money in exchange for not appealing the case has brought about questions about her intentions. According to the Fortune, if the Kleiner contention is true, then the gender discrimination was ruse for financial gain.

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