Katz, A-B dispute not going to arbitration
A St. Louis Circuit Court judge ruled that former Anheuser-Busch executive Francine Katz’s dispute with the company is not subject to arbitration, as A-B had alleged.
Katz, A-B’s former vice president of communications and consumer affairs and a member of the company’s Strategy Committee, filed a lawsuit in October alleging that she was given a smaller salary and bonuses than male executives despite repeatedly raising concerns between 2002 and 2007 about the disparity to former A-B Chief Executive Patrick Stokes, former Chairman August Busch III, former CEO August Busch IV and current A-B President David Peacock. The suit claims Anheuser-Busch encourages a “locker room” and “frat party” atmosphere, excludes women from informal social networks and pays women less than their male counterparts business card templates.
Anheuser-Busch lawyers had filed a motion to dismiss or stay Katz’s lawsuit and force it to a confidential arbitration process under the company’s Dispute Resolution Program (DRP).
However, the judge in the case ruled that “Arbitration is strictly a matter of contract, and a party can be compelled to arbitrate only when it has agreed to do so.”
"We are very pleased with the judge's decision," said Katz in a statement.
Filed under: money by Fred