The State - News from June 2, 1985

Tina Stegeman of San Mateo has won $1 million from Sears, Roebuck and Co. in the biggest sex discrimination award for a single plaintiff in California history. An Alameda County jury awarded the money to Stegeman, 44, who was passed over for promotion in favor of men who had less work experience, after a six-week trial. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster,” Stegeman said, “but it finally came out like a fairy tale.” Stegeman went to work for Sears at the age of 17. By the time she was 41, she was installation manager at Sears’ San Mateo store, where she was responsible for installing appliances, draperies, roofs and other products. She resigned after she was rejected for jobs as manager and assistant manager in Sears’ new centralized installation facilities.