Henkels & McCoy Group Inc., two subsidiaries, and the company’s chairman and CEO must face trial on a former vice president and general counsel’s claims that she was harassed over her complaints about discrimination against her and other female employees, a Philadelphia federal judge ruled.

Caroline Henrich’s evidence would support a jury finding the alleged hostile work environment was severe or pervasive enough to violate federal and Pennsylvania law, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said. It includes a “girl power” comment by David Lamoreaux, the head of human resources, the court said.

The defendants didn’t dispute that Lamoreux made the remark, which “can hardly be characterized as a mere stray comment or off-color joke,” Judge Michael M. Baylson said.

A jury could see the remark as “demeaning in a very gender-specific way” and it was made in the context of discouraging Henrich from continuing to raise the issue of Natalie Moore, who was fired after complaining that she was bypassed for promotion because she is a woman, the judge said.

Other evidence shows that the “girl power” comment was followed by the suggestion that Henkels & McCoy would stop hiring women altogether if they continued to cause problems, the court said.

In addition, Roderick Henkels, the CEO, “demanded that Henrich sign a quasi-legal...

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