Gao claimed that the true reason behind her termination was discrimination, and in the case, she pointed to instances in which her colleagues had called her a 「mental patient,」 and said that she caused 「restroom issues.」 A Dongcheng district labor arbitrator ruled in favor of Gao in January of 2019, but Dangdang appealed the case. The court upheld the ruling, not only ordering that Gao be reinstated in her position and paid her agreed-upon monthly salary of RMB 51,259, but also that she be allowed to use the women’s restroom.