'Victimised' Romanian sues City firm for record £40m

A Romanian accountant who claims that a top City firm vindictively sabotaged her career today launched a record £40million tribunal claim for victimisation.

Mihaela Popa, 31, quit Big Four auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers in November 2006 after suffering a nervous breakdown. She lost previous tribunal claims of race discrimination, constructive unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal against PwC in 2007.

She now alleges that PwC retaliated for her tribunal claims by sabotaging her future career prospects through its references and adverse influence on her new employers.

After leaving PwC, Miss Popa was later made redundant by two banks - UBS and Credit Suisse.

Miss Popa, of Hampstead, is suing PwC at Central London Employment Tribunal for victimisation on the grounds of her previous claim and claiming compensation for loss of earnings and hurt feelings. PwC strenuously denies victimisation.

The tribunal continues.