In order to secure punitive damages in their class-action sex-discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart, lawyers must show that executives at the retail giant were aware that female employees were paid less and promoted less and yet ignored it. Lawyers will try to show that the women brought their concerns to the attention of management through letters and e-mails to the CEO as well as speaking directly to board members.
See "Women say Wal-Mart execs knew of sex bias", Stephanie Armour, USA Today, June 24, 2004