Unequal pay victims are quickly realizing the benefits of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (FPA). The District Court of New Jersey’s recent decision in Gilmore v. Macy’s Retail Holdings is believed to be the first case in the country to recognize the applicability of the Fair Pay Act in unequal pay act cases under Title VII. In that case, the plaintiff filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on July 7, 2005 on the basis of alleged race discrimination. The court noted the FPA’s retroactive application:

The FPA takes effect as if enacted on May 28, 2008 and applies to all claims of discrimination in compensation under Title VII and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. et seq.) … that are pending on or after that date. The FPA therefore applies to this case. (internal quotations omitted) (emphasis added)

The court further noted that the FPA allows victims of unequal pay to recover back pay for up to 2 years preceding the filing of the charge.