DHKL client awarded $15M in Damages Against Nike, Inc. in Gender Discrimination Case

In August 2018, Dardarian Ho Kan & Lee and co-counsel filed a suit against Nike, Inc., alleging that the company discriminated against female employees in pay and promotions. Our client Heather Hender went to trial in July 2026 on her individual sex discrimination claims, after years of hard-fought litigation. The federal jury comprised of seven men and one woman heard Hender’s pay and promotion discrimination claims under the federal and Oregon Equal Pay Acts and the Oregon Equality Act. After a six-day trial, the jury found Nike violated state and federal law and awarded Hender $7.5 million in punitive damages under federal law and $7.5 million in punitive damages under Oregon state law.

Hender’s case received press coverage in the following publications:

• “Jury finds Nike discriminated against former employee due to her gender” – OPB, July 22, 2026. 

• “Jury finds Nike liable in sex discrimination suit by former employee” – Portland Business Journal, July 22, 2026.

• “Jury orders Nike to pay at least $7.5 million in damages in sex discrimination case” – The Oregonian, July 26, 2026.