Just when we thought that big gender discrimination claims were a feature of the landscape only in the US, we're starting to get a bit of action in the City too.

Claire Bright, 47, was head of asset and liability management at HBOS Treasury Services in the City. She is said to have been in charge of a team of 60 and was responsible for the management of around $140bn in assets.

Ms Bright, who is believed to have earned around £600,000 a year, was apparently suspended from her job in the City in October after, she claims, she complained about the behaviour of her manager, who some are said to have dubbed a 'mini Hitler'.

Called into a meeting with HBOS Treasury executives on Monday, Ms Bright and her legal representative, Gillian Howard, emerged after more than two hours to claim that she had been prevented from going back to work and had been dismissed. Ms Howard confirmed that she would be adding actions for wrongful dismissal and unfair dismissal to the claim for gender discrimination and victimization already filed with a London employment tribunal. She is quoted as saying that the 'claim will be for more than £10m ($19.5m)'.

HBOS said that Ms Bright remains an employee of the company and the bank acknowledged that Ms Bright did bring 'a grievance relating to allegations of s.x discrimination', which had been dealt in accordance with the company's procedures. The outcome was that the banker's allegations were not 'upheld'.

HBOS also said that it would 'vigorously defend' its position at a tribunal hearing.

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