AutoZone Said "I Feel Sorry For You" to Pregnant Manager. The Jury Awarded $185 Million.

She started at AutoZone as a cashier. She worked her way up to store manager. Then she made the mistake - in her boss's eyes - of getting pregnant.

From Cashier to Store Manager

Rosario Juarez joined AutoZone in National City, California in December 1999, starting as a cashier. By 2001 she had been promoted to Parts Sales Manager. In October 2004, after completing a training program - one AutoZone required only of external candidates, not internal promotions - she became a store manager. She had earned every rung of it.

Two Sentences That Cost $185 Million

In November 2005, Juarez told her district manager she was pregnant. His response: "Congratulations... I guess." Then: "I feel sorry for you." What followed wasn't sympathy - it was a sustained campaign. Her workload increased with unnecessary tasks. In February 2006, she was demoted back to assistant manager and transferred to a different store, losing her bonuses and overtime pay. On November 20, 2008, AutoZone terminated her employment.

What the Jury Decided

Juarez filed suit in 2008 under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The trial ran eight days in January 2015. The jury found in her favor on all claims and delivered a verdict of $185,872,719.52 - including $879,719.52 in compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress, and $185 million in punitive damages. It was believed to be the largest single-plaintiff employment verdict in US history at the time.

The jury - five men and three women - deliberated roughly five hours on the punitive figure. AutoZone's legal strategy throughout the case had been described by observers as "deny everything."

The Settlement

AutoZone appealed. In July 2015, the company dropped its appeal as part of a settlement agreement. The parties moved jointly to dismiss, and the final settlement amount was never disclosed. The $185 million verdict, however, had already made legal history - and cost AutoZone something money alone couldn't fix.