A North Carolina jury awarded a white executive $10 million on Tuesday after he sued a hospital system alleging it fired him because he was a white man, NBC News reported.   

In 2019, David Duvall sued Novant Health Inc. following his termination as senior vice president of marketing and communications. He said that he was fired without cause “as part of an intentional campaign to promote diversity in its management ranks.”  

The hospital system denied Duvall’s claim, adding that he was fired because of his performance and how he managed his subordinates.   

“We are extremely disappointed in the verdict, as we believe it is not supported by the evidence presented at trial, which includes our reason for Mr. Duvall’s termination,” a Novant Health spokesperson told NBC News. “We will pursue all legal options, including appeal.”  

Duvall was fired before his fifth anniversary with the company and was replaced by two women, one Black and one white. He alleged that he was fired because of his sex and race, and that the move was a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.   

“The message is not to abandon diversity and inclusion, it’s to do it legally,” his attorney Luke Largess said, alleging Novant Health fired his client before he was entitled to a more extensive severance package.