Judge tosses out discrimination suit against Bloomberg LP

A Manhattan judge threw out a case Wednesday that alleged Bloomberg LP, the financial news and services company started by the mayor, discriminated against pregnant employees.

U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the suit, filed on behalf of some 80 employees, lacked any solid evidence that proved "discrimination was Bloomberg's standard operating procedure, even if there were several isolated instances of individual discrimination."

" 'J’accuse!' is not enough in court," Preska wrote. "Evidence is required."

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the case in 2007 in Manhattan federal court on behalf of the women, who accused the company of reducing their pay and responsibility, demoting them or otherwise excluding them.

The EEOC didn’t return requests for comment, but told The New York Times, "We regret today’s decision, and look forward to proceeding with the individual claims and will assess our options."

The mayor's office directed a request for comment to Bloomberg LP, which said in a statement that the ruling "confirms what we have known all along: that the evidence is squarely on our side and that this case is without merit."

While Mayor Michael Bloomberg wasn't a defendant, he was called to testify, and the plaintiffs accused him of establishing a "top-down culture discrimination" at the company.