Corporate controller claims Playboy asked for accounting entry that violated Sarbanes-Oxley Act; when she refused they retaliated against her and later wrongfully terminated her employment.
Case Name: Catherine A. Zulfer v. Playboy Enterprises Inc., and Does 1 through 10, inclusive
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Psychologist at State Mental Hospital says she was terminated in violation of public policy after she complained about trial competency evaluation procedures.
Case Name: Melody Jo Samuelson v. California Department of Mental Health, et. al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, February 21, 2014
Bus driver with chronic health conditions is fired for repeated absences, but he claims that he is disabled and L.A. Metro failed to make reasonable accommodations. Offer of $100,000 before trial, but jury says $1.9 million.
Case Name: Raphael Vasquez v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Experienced claims adjuster is fired at age 60, says younger adjusters and supervisor discriminated against her. She is fired after going out on medical leave for stress.
Case Name: Sharron Warehime v. Farmers Insurance Exchange, et al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Los Angeles city gardener, a 63-year-old white man, says Hispanic foreman discriminated against him; that the City regularly discriminated against Caucasian employees in his department.
Case Name: James Duffy v. City of Los Angeles
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Monday, August 12, 2013
57-year-old production worker is fired when he fails to clean out a storage trailer after being told to do so; he says that he was physically injured off-the-job and unable to perform the task.
Case Name: Kivman v. Worldwide Aeros, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Plaintiff employees experience age and ethnicity discrimination from two higher-ups. When one employee rats out supervisor for falsifying data, retaliation follows in the form of termination.
Case Name: Nimet Behar, et al. v. Union Bank, et al.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Customer service rep takes doctor-approved leave of absence for panic attacks; defendant says she abandoned her job and fires her. $750,000 offered before closing arguments. $21.8 million award.
Case Name: April Rodriguez v. Valley Vista Services Inc. and Zerep Management Corp.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, February 14, 2013
Prison doctor of 15 years is fired and not told why; unanimous verdict on breach of contract against California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Plaintiff surgeon had treated females in two state prisons.
Case Name: Muhammad Anwar, M.D. v. State of California, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Thursday, November 08, 2012
Plaintiff is terminated after he complains of his boss's drug use at work. Plaintiff contends that his boss's connections to lucrative clients and involvement in a company merger was major factor in plaintiff's being terminated.
Case Name: Andrew MacDonald v. Ascent Media Group, Inc., et al
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Plaintiff claimed violations of safety regulations and wage/hour law after working many years for UPS. After a failed attempt at a class-action, plaintiff filed individual suit and encouraged many other managers to do the same. Plaintiff said he was fired after an incident fabricated by defendant. Jury awards substantial punitive damages.
Case Name: Michael Marlo v. United Parcel Service, Inc.
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Friday, August 24, 2012