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Fired Wal-Mart worker who claimed discrimination wins $31M

FILE - In this May 9, 2013 file photo, a worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Wal-Mart store in La Habra, Calif. The world's largest retailer, said it's testing its own mobile payment system that will allow shoppers to pay with any major credit or debit card or its own store gift card through its app at the cash register. It will start testing the new payment system Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 at its stores in the Bentonville, Ark. area, where the retailer is based. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File

CONCORD, N.H. – A jury has awarded more than $31 million in damages to a former Wal-Mart pharmacist in New Hampshire who claimed she was wrongly fired after reporting safety concerns about co-workers dispensing prescriptions.

Maureen McPadden was a 13-year employee who reported her concerns to management while working in Wal-Mart’s Seabrook pharmacy. She was fired in 2012 after losing her pharmacy key.

The jury awarded most of the money Thursday based on gender discrimination claims.

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Wal-Mart denied that it engaged in any form of wrongful conduct.

A spokesman for the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company said Friday that the facts do not support the verdict and it plans to appeal. He said McPadden had been disciplined before and the lost key led to her dismissal.

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