Last Monday, the same day that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld certification of the biggest employment discrimination class in history in Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, 04-16688, a Novartis sales representative named Marjorie Salame took the witness stand in the courtroom of Southern District Judge Colleen McMahon.
Ms. Salame, according to a transcript of the day’s proceedings, testified that in May 2002 her Novartis career was thriving. She was exceeding sales targets, organizing lecture series and beginning to take on management responsibilities. Then, at a late-night Novartis-sponsored event with physicians the company was courting, she misplaced her keys. She was cornered by one of the doctors at the event, Ms. Salame testified. And before she was able to get away, she told jurors, the doctor raped her.
