Chipotle must pay out $600,000 in gender bias suit

Three female Cincinnati-area former general managers at Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. who charged the company with gender discrimination have been awarded about $200,000 each in back pay and punitive damages by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.

In a complaint originally filed against the Denver-based company in March 2013, Tina M. Reynolds and Stephanie Ochoa had each charged that they were discharged and replaced by a male employee despite having received good reviews. Elizabeth A. Rogers said she was terminated following her taking time off to give birth and then asking to work part time, according to court papers in Elizabeth Rogers, Tina Reynolds and Stephanie Ochoa vs. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

On Monday, Ms. Rogers was awarded $116,653 in back pay, Ms. Reynolds was awarded $123,447 in back pay, Ms. Ochoa was awarded $111,836 in back pay, and all three were awarded an additional $85,000 in punitive damages.

A company spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.