Microsoft Suit

A federal judge allows a class-action lawsuit, alleging gender discrimination by Microsoft, to proceed. U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle denied the company's request to dismiss key claims by women in the suit.

The judge said three women suing Microsoft were specific enough in their claims. And, they presented a plausible case that Microsoft's pay and promotion practices had the effect of treating female and male engineers differently.

Microsoft says the performance review system wasn't arbitrary, and denies the women's allegations of discrimination.