RBC Executive Gets Trial on Whether Fired Because She Is a Woman

A jury must decide if RBC Capital Markets LLC terminated its former director of operations for U.S. wealth management based on her sex after giving potentially “internally inconsistent” reasons for the timing of and motive for firing her, a federal judge in Minnesota ruled.

Maria Malark was the subject of various complaints by subordinates and colleagues regarding her behavior as a manager, for which global head of wealth management Ingrid Versnel required Malark to receive coaching.

“But the record also reflects that Malark consistently received positive performance reviews from Versnel,” the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota said ...