Some Successful Jury Verdicts

• $155.4 Million Verdict in Public Policy & Retaliation Case

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  $155.4 Million Verdict in Public Policy & Retaliation Case

  After 37-years of devoted and decorated service, Andrew Rudnicki was inexplicably fired within months of his anticipated testimony in a FEHA case (Coates v. Farmers). Afraid of his testimony – that would have shed light on inaction by Farmers – Farmers retaliated against Rudnicki and shamefully used him as a scapegoat in order to hide that it was their own failure to address the concerns Rudnicki raised on behalf of the eventual Coates Plaintiff’s that lead to the Coates litigation. The Jury agreed, and awarded ~$5.4M in compensatory damages and a groundbreaking punitive damages award of $150M against Farmers Insurance Exchange and Farmers Group Inc.

• $31.1 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $31.1 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Rael was a 35-year employee and at the time of her separation 54 years of age. Her record was stellar. However, once new direct supervisors came into the picture, Rael began to be victimized by frequent harassing and offensive comments, including “you are outdated,” “we need younger workers in here,” “you are part of the old culture,” “unwilling to follow the new culture,” “you are resistant to change,” and “you need to change,” among numerous other comments. Rael’s work load was suddenly increased, she was refused training (despite younger employees freely receiving training), she was treated differently (and noticeably) by her supervisors compared to younger employees, denied her applications for higher positions under false pretenses in favor of a younger employee and told by Estavillo, who was under 40 years of age, “We just didn’t want you.”

• $26.1 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $26.1 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Client Bobby Dean Nickel, a 66 year old man at the time of termination, obtained a verdict against his former employer Staples Contract & Commercial and Staples, Inc. for age discrimination. Nickel, a nine year employee of Defendant, was fired for stealing a $0.68 bell pepper after he expressed to management his plans on continuing to work for Staples, Inc until “he was physically able to.” Plaintiff was awarded $26.1 million dollars in total damages – the largest employment related award of its kind in the Los Angeles legal history.

• $21.7 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $21.7 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  April Rodriguez was awarded $16.5 million in punitive damages by a Los Angeles jury that found her former employer discriminated against her because of a mental disability and wrongfully fired her, bringing her total award to $21.7 million.

• $16.6 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $16.6 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  After working for McWane, Inc. for only a few years, Rickey Moland, the company’s first African American manager, was terminated after being called deragatory names and being harassed on the job despite excellent work performance. A jury found in favor of Moland for wrongful termination and racial discrimination resulting in a $16,673,514.00 jury verdict.

• $15.4 Million Verdict in Disability and Age Discrimination Case

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  $15.4 Million Verdict in Disability and Age Discrimination Case

  *RETRIAL ON LIABILITY* Our client, legendary Los Angeles Times columnist TJ Simers, is very gratified that the jury saw the truth and vindicated him on his claims for age and disability discrimination, including for wrongful constructive termination. The award of just over $7.1 million ends a loss of career odyssey suffered by Mr. Simers in 2013. This battle was long and hard for Mr. Simers and his wonderful family. Mr. Simers was falsely labeled by the Times’ defense attorney during trial as an egotistical and self-centered man who put his interests ahead of that of the readers. The truth couldn’t have been farther from who Mr. Simers actually is – a great columnist who received 22 years of amazing accolades from the Times before. After Mr. Simers suffered a life threatening disability illness the Times cut short his 40 year wonderful career and financial stability. (Attached as Trial Exhibit 36 is the last performance appraisal Mr. Simers received before his March 16, 2013 mini-stroke – just 4 months before the Times removed him from his columnist position based on false allegations of ethical issues. Attached is the Timeline of events that show exactly what Mr. Simers went through.)

• $14 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

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  $14 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

  Our client, Berta Sosa, was fired while she was on family medical leave, caring for her critically ill husband. The jury not only found that she was fired because she took leave, but because her subordinate who discriminated against not only Sosa, but at least five other female mangers, filed a hotline complaint that led to her wrongful termination. Comerica's higher ups, including her direct supervisor were quick to take advantage of her vulnerable state, and fired Sosa based on provably false allegations of workplace violence. Berta Sosa, as well as half a dozen witnesses, vehemently disputed these allegations.

• $13.3 Million Award Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination

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  $13.3 Million Award Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination

• $13 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

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  $13 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

  Dr. Pinter-Brown was the former director of the Lymphoma Department at UCLA Medical. After she began raising concerns of harassment by a male colleague, she was targeted in various audits, had research privileges suspended, her title stricken, and her reputation harmed. The University made no significant efforts to remedy the situation, forcing Dr. Pinter-Brown to “play dead” at work to avoid confrontation before ultimately resigning her employment with UCLA. The jury found in her favor for her claims of gender discrimination and gender retaliation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

• $9.5 Million Award Disability Discrimination & Failure to Accommodate

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  $9.5 Million Award Disability Discrimination & Failure to Accommodate

• $9.1 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Case

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  $9.1 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Case

  After 23 1/2 years of service, a machine operator was terminated after she expressed concern to her employer about the safety of the machines. The employer refused to stop or even consider stopping the machines, and the client was treated as an outsider in retaliation for voicing her concerns. She was ultimately terminated.

• $8.8 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $8.8 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Client Robert Leggins was fired after 27 years with Rite Aid, following years of bias stemming from a 2007 incident in which he was injured while trying to prevent his store from being robbed. Leggin’s injuries required multiple surgeries and medical leaves, and left him restricted in the ability to move heavy objects. Instead of accommodating him, managers deliberately forced Leggins to perform tasks that caused him pain, heaped more work on him when he complained, and accused him of being a slacker.

• $8.5 Million Verdict in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

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  $8.5 Million Verdict in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

  Shegerian’s client worked as a model on The Price is Right for almost eight years. Cochran was recognized by her colleagues and producers as an extremely professional and dedicated model. Shortly after attempting to return from her pregnancy leave in January 2009, Cochran was fired from the show. She subsequently filed claims for pregnancy and disability discrimination, in addition to wrongful termination.

• $8.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $8.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Client Michele Daniel obtained the verdict against the Texas-based oil refinery, Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company. The lawsuit involved Michele Daniel’s claims for disability discrimination against Tesoro’s local facility in Wilmington where she had worked for 18 years. In the last years of her employment, Daniel suffered an on-the-job injury to her knee requiring surgery and other medical treatment. Following temporary accommodations from a predecessor corporation, Daniel was not accommodated and terminated by Tesoro’s management.

• $8.4 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $8.4 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Client Talbert Mitchell was discriminated against as a result of a disability and ultimately fired for being a whistleblower after working with SEIU for 21 years. A jury returned a verdict of $8.46 million in the case.

• $8.2 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $8.2 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Shegerian & Associates was successful in obtaining justice for a former pharmacy technician who was employed through Rite Aid Corporation in the Los Angeles area for 23.5 years. Our client had her career of 23 years wiped away when she was wrongfully terminated, harassed and had her privacy rights invaded.

• $8 Million Settlement in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $8 Million Settlement in Wrongful Termination Case

  Client Kandi Dudley began working for defendant in 2007 as a mental health therapist. In August of 2011 plaintiff was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout Dudley’s employment, she received excellent written performances. Plaintiff Kandi Dudley alleges that shortly after she informed defendant of her medical condition and requested accommodation, she was discriminated against because of her disability/cancer, and wrongfully terminated. The case was settled, with a non confidential clause, for $8,000,000.00. We are happy to confirm that Kandi is healthy and in remission.

• $7.8 Million Award Disability Discrimination

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  $7.8 Million Award Disability Discrimination

• $7.6 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $7.6 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Shortly after disclosing his diagnosis of thyroid cancer to his employer, Mr. Garcia and his wife were discriminated against and wrongfully terminated from a Canoga Park complex where they worked as live-in apartment managers. The Garcia’s had to leave their apartment unit, which was provided to them as part of their compensation. A Los Angeles jury awarded Mr. Garcia $7.6 million for damages. 

• $7.45 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination Case

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  $7.45 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination Case

  Maria Martinez was a lead at Pharmavite, LLC's packaging department. She became disabled with physical conditions and was provided work restrictions from her doctor. The jury found in favor of Maria Martinez for Failure to Engage in the Interactive Process and Failure to Reasonably Accommodate.

• $7.4 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination Case

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  $7.4 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination & Wrongful Termination Case

• $7.3 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $7.3 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Client, Jose Juarez, worked for RadioShack Corporation for nine years, won “manager of the month” ten times and contributed to the success of the stores he managed. Juarez was terminated when he refused to become more aggressive in pushing products to the public.

• $7.1 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $7.1 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Our client, legendary Los Angeles Times columnist TJ Simers, is very gratified that the jury saw the truth and vindicated him on his claims for age and disability discrimination, including for wrongful constructive termination. The award of just over $7.1 million ends a loss of career odyssey suffered by Mr. Simers in 2013. This battle was long and hard for Mr. Simers and his wonderful family. Mr. Simers was falsely labeled by the Times’ defense attorney during trial as an egotistical and self-centered man who put his interests ahead of that of the readers. The truth couldn’t have been farther from who Mr. Simers actually is – a great columnist who received 22 years of amazing accolades from the Times before. After Mr. Simers suffered a life threatening disability illness the Times cut short his 40 year wonderful career and financial stability. (Attached as Trial Exhibit 36 is the last performance appraisal Mr. Simers received before his March 16, 2013 mini-stroke – just 4 months before the Times removed him from his columnist position based on false allegations of ethical issues. Attached is the Timeline of events that show exactly what Mr. Simers went through.)

• $7 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

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  $7 Million Verdict in Gender Discrimination Case

  In 2008, Chief Lili Hadsell became the first and only female Police Chief of the City of Baldwin Park. As a woman, Chief Hadsell was regularly undermined and harassed by Officer Mike Taylor and Councilman Ricardo Pacheco. Chief Hadsell often heard, “I’m never going to call that woman Police Chief.” Despite disapproval from Councilman Pacheco and Officer Taylor, by 2009, Chief Hadsell had already brought crime statistics down in the City of Baldwin Park. Notwithstanding Chief Hadsell’s effectiveness in making Baldwin Park a safer city, Councilman Pacheco repeatedly threatened to fire Chief Hadsell. Ultimately, the City Council voted to terminate Chief Hadsell in December 2013 with Councilman Pacheco being the single vote that ended Chief Hadsell’s career. In 2019, a jury unanimously vindicated Chief Hadsell, finding that the City of Baldwin park was liable for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and awarding $7,020,000.00 in compensatory damages.

• $6.3 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $6.3 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Presciliano Contreras, a dedicated employee who served as the IT Director at Kelly Pipe Co., LLC for a span of 22 years, asserted that his inclusion in a 23-employee layoff in 2020 was not solely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as claimed by the company, but rather stemmed from being targeted for his age and for his multitude of complaints regarding discriminatory and harassing incidents he endured in the workplace. Many of these incidents specifically related to his then supervisor, the company’s Chief Information Officer, who in turn selected Contreras to be part of the 2020 layoff.

• $6 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $6 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Shegerian & Associates recently won a $6.0 million verdict against Rite Aid. Maria Martinez, a former long-term employee of Rite Aid, filed the lawsuit after she was terminated after taking a medical leave of absense for a serious health condition and made a complaint about sexual harassment.

• $5.9 Million Award

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  $5.9 Million Award

• $5.9 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $5.9 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Ms. Ramirez’s career with World Oil Corp. and Asbury Environmental Services spanned over 16 years, dating back to 2001. Following a medical leave of absence for shoulder surgery, Ramirez was prevented from returning to work by Defendants. Ramirez was not given reasoning to why she could not return to work. However, Defendants alleged that Ramirez’s post-surgery restrictions were too severe for her to perform her desk job duties as a collections specialist. At the end of a three-week trial, the jury on Thursday, April 21, 2022, found that World Oil Corp. and Asbury Environmental Services had discriminated against Margarita Ramirez, failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her disability, and failed to engage in the interactive process with Ms. Ramirez.

• $5.4 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Retaliation Case

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  $5.4 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Retaliation Case

  Richard Galvan was a 30-year employee of UPS and drove feeder trucks (“big rigs”) throughout most of his employment.  He was terminated in January of 2017 following a series of serious health and safety complaints.  In September of 2016, four months before he was fired, Galvan was assaulted by another UPS employee on UPS property, and sustained a fractured wrist. Galvan made complaints to human resources, his manager, and others.  Weeks before his termination, Galvan made a safety complaint about his manager intentionally changing his work schedule to make him drive his feeder truck under dangerous conditions.

• $4.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $4.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Shegerian & Associates recently won a $4.5 million verdict against the Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP). Della Hill, a former long-term employee of AADAP, filed the lawsuit against AADAP after losing her job while she was on a protected medical leave.

• $4.1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $4.1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Larry Whithorn worked for the City of West Covina for nearly 30 years. He joined the department in 2019 as a firefighter and was promoted to fire chief in 2014. He began experiencing harassment after he spent roughly eight months on medical leave in 2017. He was wrongfully terminated in April of 2019. During the trial, testimony revealed that the West Covina Firefighters Association, through its then-president Matthew Jackson, allegedly engaged in various tactics to leverage a better union contract for the City’s firefighters, which included targeting Whithorn immediately after his medical leave with a vote of no confidence.

• $3.7 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $3.7 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Earlier this week, Kourtney Liggins, a former Catholic school teacher, was awarded $3.57 million in a verdict against the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for wrongful termination. A Los Angeles Supreme Court Jury also awarded Liggins $87,000 in punitive damages against Archdiocese’s Father Michael Tang.

• $3.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $3.5 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  In Palma v. Rite Aid Corporation, a case involving disability discrimination and retaliation, a jury issued a $3.5 million verdict.

• $3.2 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $3.2 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Client, James Duffy, had compromised cognitive abilities due to two traumatic brain injuries, one that had placed him in a coma for half of a year. Duffy worked for 16 years as a park maintenance worker for the City of Los Angeles until an intolerant manager was put in charge of him and harassed him with continuous verbal slurs and threats.

• $3.2 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $3.2 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Shegerian & Associates’ client worked for less than one year as a salesperson. When our client complained about not receiving wages due to her, she was fired, causing her serious emotional injury and financial distress.

• $2.9 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $2.9 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Anahit Shirvanyan was an eight year kitchen employee at Los Angeles Valley College, part of the Los Angeles Community College District. After she was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, she began to wear a splint and asked for help with her work and eventually a transfer out of the kitchen. She claimed that the District refused to help her and refused to transfer her to another position while she dealt with the pain. She eventually submitted a doctor’s note for a leave of absence and claimed that the District never responded. The District claimed that it never fired her. The jury found in her favor for her failure to engage in the interactive process and failure to accommodate disability claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

• $2.8 Million Verdict in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

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  $2.8 Million Verdict in Pregnancy Discrimination Case

  This Shegerian & Associates client who had worked for many years for a major corporation attempted to return to work after being on maternity leave. Instead, she was terminated shortly after her pregnancy leave ended.

• $2.7 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $2.7 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  Stryder Spillane was subjected to discriminatory and harassing comments following his diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis and his developing difficulties speaking. Plaintiff complained about mistreatment by co-workers and was then demoted and forced to resign.

• $2.5 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $2.5 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Two employees of a bank in Orange County were labeled “unethical” and terminated after they made internal complaints about wage issues.

• $2.2 Million Verdict in Discrimination Case

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  $2.2 Million Verdict in Discrimination Case

  In Taylor v. Biomet, a case involving discrimination and defamation claims, a jury issued a verdict in favor of our client for $2.2 million.

• $2.1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

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  $2.1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination Case

  After many years of hard work for a large corporation, this Shegerian & Associates client requested needed worksite accommodations for her minor disabilities. The employer refused the accommodations and terminated her because of the disabilities.

• $1.9 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

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  $1.9 Million Verdict in Wrongful Termination Case

  Our client was entrusted to oversee students at a school that was not complying with state safety regulations. When our client expressed concern to the employer about the violations of safety regulations, she was fired.

• $1.8 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Case

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  $1.8 Million Verdict in Whistleblower Case

  Our client, Cynthia Begazo, was awarded $1,829,160.00 by a Los Angeles jury that found that she had been retaliated against based upon her complaints of others being discriminated against due to disability, and also retaliated against by her supervising managers after she blew the whistle on what she considered to be suspected illegality in relation to a deceased patient found on the premises.

• $1.6 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $1.6 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Constance Tovar and Victoria Gacitua had worked at a local branch of Bank of America for 32 and 16 years, respectively. The two alleged that after a new branch manager was hired, the new manager tried to force Tovar and Gacitua to attend meetings where the two employees were strongly encouraged to retire. Additionally, they alleged that the new manager began making comments to them, saying they were “too old” and “too slow” to fulfill the responsibilities of their positions. Then, in May 2001, the two were terminated. They subsequently filed a suit, claiming the bank had discriminated against them on the basis of their age (they were in their late fifties at the time) and had wrongfully terminated them. The court found the defendant guilty of age discrimination, wrongful termination, workplace harassment, and malice, and Tovar and Gacitua were awarded a $1.6 million verdict.

• $1.5 Million Verdict in Workplace Harassment Case

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  $1.5 Million Verdict in Workplace Harassment Case

  Our client worked for Alcoa Fastening Systems, a division of Alcoa, since 1973, and was struck by a large falling transformer while on the job. After returning from medical leave, our client experienced discriminatory behaviors at the hands of Alcoa, such as disability discrimination, failure to accommodate his disability, harassment, retaliation, and ultimately wrongful termination. With the help of Shegerian & Associates, our client was awarded $208,915 for past lost earnings; $130,572 for future lost earnings; $800,000 for past mental suffering; and $400,000 for future mental suffering, for a total of $1,539,497.

• $1.3 Million Verdict in Age Wrongful Termination Case

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  $1.3 Million Verdict in Age Wrongful Termination Case

  Shegerian & Associates’ client worked as a pilates instructor and alleges she was wrongfully terminated and retaliated against which resulted in emotional distress. A jury agreed with those allegations, resulting in a $1.3 million verdict.

• $1.2 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

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  $1.2 Million Verdict in Age Discrimination Case

  Shegerian & Associates’ client worked as a salesperson for 22 years at a mass distribution company in Los Angeles, worked for the company since 1987. She was fired in March of 2009 in what the employer called a lay-off. Our client won her age harassment and breach of implied employment contract not to terminate without good cause claim.

• $1.2 Million Verdict in Sexual Orientation Case

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  $1.2 Million Verdict in Sexual Orientation Case

  Our client was terminated shortly after he advised his employer of his sexual orientation. His employer manufactured false reasons, wrote our client up for issues it did not write other employees up for and fired him.

• $1.1 Million Verdict in Breach of Contract Case

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  $1.1 Million Verdict in Breach of Contract Case

  This Shegerian & Associates client worked for a high-end retail store for twelve years. His employer had promised him that as long as he performed his job well, he would always have a job with the company. The employer later fired our client — falsely claiming the termination was due to his legal working papers being invalid.

• $1.07 Million Verdict in Wage Complaint Case

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  $1.07 Million Verdict in Wage Complaint Case

  This hard working client was terminated because he refused to fire another employee and pay that employee’s severance out of wages he had earned himself. Further, this client was not paid wages owed to him for overtime and double overtime.

• $1.05 Million Verdict in Sexual Harassment Case

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  $1.05 Million Verdict in Sexual Harassment Case

  This Shegerian & Associates client was subjected to sexual harassment on the job by her direct supervisor. Her supervisor denied the harassment when our client complained about it and then fired her, claiming that it was due to “corporate downsizing.”

• $1 Million Verdict in Retaliation Case

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  $1 Million Verdict in Retaliation Case

  Mr. Bravo was an employee of Huy Fong Foods, Inc. Siracha plant for four years, until he faced retaliation after raising health concerns. During his tenure at the company, changes were made to the plant’s ventilation system and Bravo, who had asthma, began suffering significant breathing problems. Mr. Bravo diligently raised multiple accommodation requests, only to have them callously disregarded. Instead of addressing his concerns, he was unjustly terminated on the grounds of allegedly contaminating food during a routine machine cleaning, despite adhering to the proper procedures. A Los Angeles jury determined that Huy Fong Foods, Inc. retaliated against Bravo and failed to engage in a good faith interactive process, violating the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

• $1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination

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  $1 Million Verdict in Disability Discrimination

  Malcolm Thomas was a rising star and literal face of the LAPD until he sustained a workplace injury. After repeated attempts to receive accommodation for his physical limitation, he was subjected to a hostile work environment where they ridiculed his injury, his masculinity, and his inability to be a “team player.” After repeated complaints, Thomas went above the chain of command, and paid the price. Since then, he had been on a 10-year campaign to get his job back, but to this day, has not been brought back to the LAPD despite being cleared to return to work.