Anheuser-Busch Discrimination Suit Verdict Draws Near

A St. Louis jury is preparing to deliberate in a former Anheuser-Busch executive’s gender discrimination lawsuit against the company.

Francine Katz filed suit soon after she left Anheuser-Busch following its 2008 sale to Belgian brewer InBev. Katz earned roughly $1 million annually after her 2002 promotion to vice president of communications and consumer affairs but is seeking millions more in back pay and damages. The 56-year-old lawyer says she earned less than half of what her male predecessor was paid.

Anheuser-Busch’s lawyers argued that Katz’s total compensation compared favorably to those in similar positions at other large U.S. corporations. They also said her duties were considerably narrower than predecessor John Jacob, a former National Urban League president and member of the brewer’s board of directors.

Closing arguments were scheduled Thursday.