SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Female chauffeurs win damages from prince

Three female chauffeurs in the US have been awarded damages after a Saudi prince told limousine companies he wanted only male drivers.

Gretchen Cooper
Gretchen Cooper Source: Facebook

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

A US federal judge has awarded damages to three women who sued after they were dismissed from their chauffeur jobs because a Saudi prince wanted only male drivers.

US District Judge Joan Ericksen on Thursday awarded $US130,000 ($A183,590) each to Gretchen Cooper, Barbara Herold and Lisa Boutelle.

In November, Ericksen ruled in favour of the three women, who filed a gender discrimination lawsuit in 2012 in Minneapolis.

The women received $US100,000 each for mental anguish and suffering under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the Star Tribune reported.

Erickson doubled the $US15,000 that each woman sought for wage loss, to $US30,000, but did not grant punitive damages, saying that while the defendants may have acted unlawfully, the women bringing the lawsuit had not shown they acted with "deliberate disregard or malice".

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The women were among 40 drivers hired in October 2010 to chauffeur Prince Abdul-Rahman bin Abdul-Aziz, his family and friends while the prince was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

The lawsuit alleged that the prince and his entourage told the limousine companies they wanted male chauffeurs. Women in Saudi Arabia are prohibited from driving.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world