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Home Depot Charged With Sex Discrimination: A class action lawsuit filed in San Francisco federal court claims the nation’s largest home improvement chain systematically discriminated against women in hiring, pay, promotions and training. The Atlanta-based company said it takes the charges seriously and would conduct its own investigation with outside counsel. But the 313-store chain said its record in hiring women and minorities was exemplary. The suit, which seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages, was filed on behalf of eight current and former employees of Home Depot’s western region.