Bloomberg, the financial news and data company, could be forced to pay more than $145 million (£71 million) in damages after three women accused the group of being hostile towards pregnancy and new mothers.

The women allege that a culture of gender discrimination was fostered by top managers such as Michael Bloomberg, the founder who stepped down as chief executive in 2001 to run successfully for Mayor of New York.

In a lawsuit filed this week at the US District Court in Manhattan, the three women – two of whom still work for the company – are seeking at least $48 million in damages each.

“This systematic, top-down discrimination against female employees is fostered, condoned and perpetuated by the highest levels of management within Bloomberg and by ownership of Bloomberg, to wit, Michael Bloomberg, Peter Grauer [chairman], Alexius ‘Lex’ Fenwick [chief executive] and Thomas Secunda [founding partner],” the complaint read.

The complaint also accused Mr Fenwick of telling another executive to fire two pregnant employees, saying: “I’m not having any pregnant bitches working for me.”

Mr Bloomberg, who owns 68 per cent of the company and is worth an estimated $11.5 billion, is not a defendant in the suit.

However, the case will prove an embarrassment to Mr Bloomberg who, despite consistently denying any interest, is widely thought to be contemplating a run for the US presidency next year. A spokesman for Mr Bloomberg declined to comment.

A Bloomberg company spokes-woman said: “We intend to defend ourselves vigorously against these outlandish claims.”

She added: “It sounds like an effort to damage reputations and to stir up publicity to pressure the company for financial gain. The company is proud of our track record in treating our people well and in offering the best benefit programmes around for all employees, especially families and women.”

In the complaint, Jill Patricot, 35, said that she was “immediately subjected to a hostile work environment” after returning from maternity leave in 2005.

Ms Patricot, who had joined Bloomberg in 1998, was allegedly excluded from meetings that she would have previously attended.

She was told that her “career at the company had been paused because she had a child”, the complaint said.

Janet Loures, 41, was allegedly told that “she could not expect the business to stand still” because she had gone on maternity leave and was given fewer and fewer responsibilities after she returned. She joined in 1989.

Tanys Lancaster, 38, said that she left Bloomberg in 2005 after being demoted with no explanation after she returned from maternity leave. She had joined Bloomberg in 1994.

This is not the first time that the company has faced discrimination lawsuits.

In 1997 Mr Bloomberg was personally accused of telling a pregnant woman to “kill it”.

He reached an undisclosed out-of-court settlement and admitted no wrongdoing.

Times Recommends

• Lies and cover-up at MG Rover exposed by report
• High oil prices push manufacturing costs up
• Primark founder steps down as chief executive