A federal jury has awarded a woman $95 million in a sexual harassment lawsuit against an Illinois rent-to-own business in suburban St. Louis.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on its website Thursday that the award against Aaron's Inc. includes $15 million in compensatory damages and $80 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit by the 20-year-old employee claimed that she was harassed for almost a year by a supervisor at a Fairview Heights store, culminating in an October 2006 sexual assault.
Aaron's Inc. said in a written statement that the jury's decision is an example of a "classic runaway jury" and it will appeal. The company said it believes $50 million of the judgment exceeds caps set by law.