Gender bias lawsuit appeal dropped

SAN FRANCISCO — The woman who lost her highprofile gender discrimination lawsuit against a Silicon Valley venture capital firm said she is dropping her appeal and ending the case that became a flashpoint on inequality in the tech industry.

Ellen Pao said she cannot afford the risk of incurring additional costs to fight Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. She said she had not reached any settlement with the firm and will pay some of the firm’s legal fees. A judge has ordered Pao to pay Kleiner Perkins $275,000 in legal fees.

“This battle has been painful for me personally and professionally, and also for my family,” Pao said. “It is time to move on. I look forward to continuing the conversation about workplace equality and to building great companies in the technology industry.”

A jury in March found Kleiner Perkins did not discriminate or retaliate against Pao when it fired her in 2012. The case came amid an ongoing discussion about gender inequity at elite technology and venture capital firms, where women are grossly underrepresented.

Kleiner Perkins said it was glad to put the trial behind it. “Diversity in the workplace is an important issue. KPCB remains committed to supporting women and minorities in venture capital and technology both inside our firm and within our industry,” the company said.