Former Menards attorney reaches discrimination settlement with co.

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) — Court records and attorneys say the Menards home improvement company has settled a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former executive.

Attorneys representing Menards and Dawn Sands say they are prohibited from commenting on the settlement, which averts a lengthy civil trial.

According to court documents, Sands was general counsel for Menards for six years beginning in 1999. Sands said she was paid considerably less than comparable male employees and after she repeatedly asked for a raise she was fired.

An arbitration panel awarded her $1.7 million and ordered her reinstated. The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram says Menards refused to reinstate Sands, so she filed a civil suit.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court later ruled Sands shouldn’t be rehired because of a potentially hostile working environment. The most recent trial focused on compensation for not being rehired.

Information from: Leader-Telegram, http://www.leadertelegram.com/