Mechanic sues after he is told that boss referred to him by using the "N" word. $176K. Orange County.

Summary

Mechanic sues boss for racial discrimination and many other causes of action.

The Case

Case Name: Barry Ware v. JKM Equipment, Inc., et al.
Court and Case Number: Orange County Superior Court / 30-2015-00827210-CU-WT-CJC
Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Date Action was Filed: Monday, December 28, 2015
Type of Action: Discrimination, ADA, Discrimination, Racial, Employment, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Nathan Scott
Plaintiffs:
Barry Ware
Defendants:
JKM Equipment, Inc.
John K. Mitzel
Type of Result: Jury Verdict

The Result

Gross Verdict or Award: $176,000
Award as to each Defendant:
$176,000 jointly and severally.
The jury found in favor of plaintiff on his racial harassment cause of action. However, the jury found in favor of defendants on the race discrimination, disability discrimination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress causes of action. The jury further found that the plaintiff was an independent contractor, not an employee.
Contributory/Comparative Negligence: None
Economic Damages:
$60,000
Non-Economic Damages:
$100,000
Punitive Damages:
$16,000
Trial or Arbitration Time: 9/18/2017 to 10/24/2017
Jury Deliberation Time: 2 days for compensatory damages and 1/2 day for punitive damages.
Jury Polls: 9-3
Post Trial Motions & Post-Verdict Settlements: Motion for attorneys' fees pending.

The Attorneys

Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Lyon Law PC by Geoffrey C. Lyon and Christopher Garcia, Los Angeles.
Attorney for the Defendant:
Madrid Law Firm, A Professional Law Corp by Eduardo M. Madrid and Erica L. Madrid, Chino.

The Experts

Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Jeffrey Gates, M.D., orthopedics, Riverside.
Hung Le, M.D., psychiatry, Corona.
Sharon Tanghal, LCSW, counseling, Chino.
Defendant's Medical Expert(s):
Steven Graboff, M.D.,orthopedics, Huntington Beach.
Nadim Karim, Ph.D., psychology, Los Angeles.
Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Timothy Lanning, economics, Santa Ana.
Defendant's Technical Expert(s):
Venita McMorris, economics.

Facts and Background

Facts and Background:
Defendants, a heavy equipment rental company, hired plaintiff, a mechanic, to perform maintenance on their earth moving machines that were leased out to a general contractor.
Plaintiff brought this employment action claiming racial and disability discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, constructive termination, failure to determine and make reasonable accommodation for disability, improper classification as an independent contractor, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and invasion of privacy: a total of 15 causes of action.
Plaintiff's Contentions:
That plaintiff was hired as an employee and misclassified as an independent contractor.
After he walked off the job, plaintiff asserted that many of the conversations, text messages and emails between him and defendants were racially offensive and rose to the level of creating a hostile work environment.
Also, that plaintiff was injured on the job.
Plaintiff sued defendant for racial harassment, racial discrimination, disability discrimination, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress and Improper Classification as an Independent Contractor.
Defendant's Contentions:
Defendant contended that plaintiff was hired as an independent contractor.
Defendant company owner, who is Caucasian, and plaintiff, who is African-American, developed a friendship. They laughed, joked and shared stories about themselves. Defendant would text and email jokes that he believed would be found humorous by plaintiff. Defendant never knew there was a problem and plaintiff never complained to defendant about any of the subject matter.
An operator of the general contractor started a false rumor that defendant referred to the plaintiff with the “N” word. When plaintiff heard the rumor, he became very angry, felt betrayed and walked off the job.
Additionally, plaintiff attempted to blame defendants for exacerbation of an alleged knee injury that did not occur on the job.

Injuries and Other Damages

Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Aggravation of knee injury.
Emotional distress.

Special Damages

Special Damages Claimed - Past Lost Earnings: $190,000
Special Damages Claimed - Future Lost Earnings: $1,500,000

Demands and Offers

Plaintiff Final Demand before Trial: At the outset, plaintiff’s attorneys demanded $5.9 Million. At the MSC, plaintiff reduced his demand to $4.5 Million.
Plaintiff Demand during Trial: At a bifurcated trial, plaintiff asked the jury to award between $600,000 and $700,000, in compensatory damages and between $640,000 and $1.12 million in punitive damages.
Defendant Final Offer before Trial: Defendants offered zero.
Defendant Offer during Trial: Defendants asked the jury to award zero damages.

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Disclaimer

This is not an official court document. While the publisher believes the information to be accurate, the publisher does not guarantee it and the reader is advised not to rely upon it without consulting the official court documents or the attorneys of record in this matter who are listed above.