Briggs v. Lawrenceville Industries, Inc.

Plaintiffs Etta Briggs and Ruth Harrington commenced this action pursuant to section 17 of article 1 of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. 1, sec. 17), alleging that their former employer, Lawrenceville Industries, had discriminated against them on the basis of sex. After a jury trial in the circuit court of Jasper County, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for a new trial as to damages only. After the second trial, the jury awarded each plaintiff $20,000. Defendants appeal; plaintiffs cross-appeal. We reverse the judgment of the trial court.

Plaintiffs’ complaint was…