Firm says Pao demanded cash

A Silicon Valley venture capital firm says the woman behind a high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit demanded $2.7 million not to appeal the jury verdict against her.

Attorneys for Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers included the figure in court documents filed in San Francisco Superior Court against Ellen Pao. Pao filed a notice this week that she was appealing the March verdict.

A jury found that Kleiner Perkins did not discriminate or retaliate against Pao. The case became a flashpoint in an ongoing discussion about gender inequity at technology and venture capital firms.

Heather Wilson, a spokeswoman for Pao, declined to comment.