National Press Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm that represented Lilly Ledbetter in her 10-year pay discrimination battle against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., joined Congressman Artur Davis and others Feb. 2 to honor Mrs. Ledbetter for her public service, and to celebrate the new law that bears her name.

"We are proud of our firm's role in fighting for pay equity for women everywhere, and we salute President Obama for making this the first bill that he signs into law. But we are most proud of Lilly Ledbetter," said Jon Goldfarb, shareholder at Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis, LLC. and lead attorney in the case. "We know that she did not set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. But she realized at some level that this was not just about her, but about fairness, and that led her to keep pushing to make the American workplace a better place for her children and grandchildren. We are inspired and humbled by her, and her courage renews in each of us the notion that the challenges are never too great if one is on the side of right."

"For every Lilly the firm represents, there are a thousand people whom nobody has heard of whose victories will not win headlines, but whose persistence in the cause of justice is equally worthy of celebration," Mr. Goldfarb said.

For nearly two decades, Mrs. Ledbetter was paid less than her male co-workers at Goodyear -- even though, as she says, "I was doing the same work they were, and doing it well." The company kept the discrimination quiet, and Mrs. Ledbetter didn't find out about the pay gap until she received an anonymous note. Seeking to rectify this injustice, she sought help from Wiggins, Childs. Mr. Goldfarb filed suit first in November 1999. The firm won the case at trial, only to lose on appeal in the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and then losing by a narrow 5-4 decision in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2007.

On January 29, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and reversing the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision, which set a 180-day statute of limitations for employees filing wage discrimination charges.

The National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) applauded the firm's work in a recent statement: "Many have been acknowledged for making the new Ledbetter law possible, but NELA would be remiss if we did not recognize the tireless efforts of Lilly Ledbetter's legal team ... Lilly's journey -- and indeed the Ledbetter law itself -- would not have been possible without the years of commitment and devotion of Wiggins, Childs to the cause of equality and justice."

About Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis, LLC (www.wcqp.com): Since 1985, the firm has established a tradition of excellence in discrimination, consumer protection, and employment law. The firm is recognized nationally for its expertise in representing employees and consumers in a wide range of civil disputes. A successful history in the courts has established Wiggins, Childs' reputation as a leader and advocate for the rights of individuals in areas such as civil rights, labor and employment, consumer fraud, healthcare litigation, mass torts, contract, product liability, personal injury, business torts, and environmental law. The firm has offices in Birmingham, AL and Washington, D.C.

For more information, contact:

Tabitha J Lacy, Hare Communications, 205-939-4001, 205-936-8326 c, tabitha@harebrains.com or Erin Whaley, Hare Communications, 205-939-4001, erin@harebrains.com

SOURCE Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis, LLC