Court to hear LLC owner's discrimination case

The Minnesota Supreme Court hears arguments today on whether the owner of a limited liability company can personally sue another business for discriminating against her.

Limited liability companies, or LLCs, are like corporations in that their owners are typically shielded from lawsuits filed against their companies. Diamond Dust Drywall LLC's owner sued Zeman Construction, alleging that Zeman's managers sexually harassed and discriminated against her as a subcontractor on a work project.

The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold a lower court ruling that found that the woman didn't have the right to sue because her company, not she herself, had a contract with Zeman.

One member of the three judge panel that issued that ruling dissented, saying state law prohibits business practices that discriminate based on a person's sex.