Case Results
Disclaimer
Each case is tried on its particular facts and circumstances and the verdicts and/or settlements vary. The reader should not anticipate that he/she will have the same or similar results as each case is evaluated on its particular facts including the credibility of parties and corroboration of other witnesses.
Doss v Dept. of Social and Health Services
Pierce County Superior Court, Tacoma, Wa.
Case: Sexual Harassment, Retaliation, Hostile Work Environment
Outcome: $450,000.00 inclusive of all attorney fees and costs
Description: Plaintiff worked at Western State Hospital for over 29 years. She repeatedly sought promotional advances for positions for which she was well qualified and was denied the promotion, even though she was continuously asked to train the successful recipient. She was harassed on the basis of her race, gender, age, and retaliation. The acts of the defendants created a hostile working environment and caused her emotional and physical damages. Plaintiff was retaliated against for reporting the harassment.EXPERTS: Laura Brown, PH.D for Plaintiff and Russell Vandenbelt, PH.D.
Kathryn Ellis as Trustee for Gregory Corliss v. Robert Larson Motors et al.
United States District Court for The Western District of Wa. at Tacoma
Case: Male Sexual Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, Retaliation
Outcome: $800,000 Jury Verdict rendered on 03/8/2018; ($500,000 for sexual harassment and $300,000 for statutory Title Vii punitive damages cap; attorney fees and costs are pending)
Description: Plaintiff Corliss worked as a boat salesman from April 3, 2013 until he was terminated on June 26, 2013. Corliss asserts that he was a victim of sexual harassment (shown and told to watch a rape scene from the movie, “Deliverance” as part of his orientation it was suggested by his defendant manager, Devi, that if he did not sell boats, he could possibly be raped and he was subjected to various sexual requests from his manager. Robert Larson Jr. testified that he participated in an activity at work where objects were thrown at the groins of male employees. Witnesses corroborated Plaintiff’s allegations.
All defendants admitted that cursing at the workplace was common. The jury found that the acts of the defendants constituted sexual harassment and retaliation for filing with the EEOC that created a hostile working environment.
Hubert Whiten v. NBC, Will Smith et al.
LA County Superior Court
Case: Discrimination
Outcome: Undisclosed Amount Settlement
Description: Janet Hubert Whiten played Aunt Vivian on The Fresh Prince of Belair with Will Smith. She alleged pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination when she was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. The matter was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Robert Larsen Automotive Group
United States Western District of WA
Case: Race, National Origin Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
Outcome: $1,800,000.00 to plaintiffs plus an additional $750,000 set aside for potential claims.
Description: Current and former Afro Americans supervisors and managers who intervened in EEOC’s suit, brought charges of race and sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and a hostile work environment. Racial epithets would be prevalent in the workplace and often on the dealership intercom heard by the public. At that time Robert Larson Automotive Group was the third largest dealership in Washington State, grossing over $43,000,000.00 a year.
Charges: Included racial offensive epithets, hostile work environment, was perpetrated by the owner characterizing customers and employees in derogatory and Demeaning ways.
Alonso v. Qwest Communications
Pierce County Superior Court
Case: Sex & Racial Discrimination, Hostile Work Environment
Outcome: She awarded $175,000 to the Plaintiff for that claim.
Description: Plaintiff who was Hispanic had been subjected to a hostile work environment, race discrimination, and retaliation by his supervisors (one of whom was a Hispanic male and the other a female). Both supervisors failed to alleviate the hostile and racist work environment. In fact, his supervisors often participated in the derogatory banter. The matter was tried by a visiting judge because Plaintiff’s first attorney failed to request a jury. All other subsequent efforts to retain a jury were denied.
Eric Kitazi v. Sellen Construction Company, Inc.
United States District Court for The Western District of Wa. at Seattle
Case: Retaliation and Hostile Work Environment
Outcome: $674,292.54 Jury Verdict rendered on 12/15/2017
Description: Plaintiff was born and raised in Kenya and became a U.S. citizen in 1999. During his employment he was discriminated against on the basis of his race and subjected to demeaning racial comments such as “money butter”; ‘Ebola” and constantly was subjected to chewing tobacco spat on his work as a concrete pourer and lunch. These acts were often performed in front of management who did not intervene or take corrective action to stop the harassment.
This case was decided on the sole credibility of Plaintiff and his union dispatcher who testified for less than 20 minutes. The defendants moved for a remitter seeking to reduce the verdict to $50,000. This motion was denied.
Lizee v. State of Washington, DSHS et al.
WA Pierce County Superior Court
Case: Sexual Harassment
Outcome: Case was settled for nearly $800,000.00
Description:Plaintiff, a 50 year old, Caucasian female, was sexually harassed by her supervisor, Barrett Green, African American President of the Washington State Employees Union. Twenty women testified that they too had been sexually harassed for over two decades. Corrective action had not been taken by WSH officials and the State.
CEO of Western State Hospital, was fired along with Barrett Green. Many state employees who were retired were fearful of retaliation being taken against their relatives who were current employees and initially were afraid to testify. Several other lawsuits followed with similar results as a result of the courage of Lizee. The retaliation was systemic up through the supervisor that the CEO reported to who was in collusion with an Union Representative. Lizee was stripped of her duties, placed in a hallway without support staff and ridiculed.
Paty v. Puget Sound National Bank (Key Bank)
United States District Court
Case: Sexual Harassment
Outcome: Jury and attorney fee award of $610,000 (later reduced on appeal). Largest award at the time in the state for a single plaintiff who had been sexually harassed.
Description: Plaintiff worked for the bank and was told the only way she could get ahead was to sleep with management. Puget Sound National Bank was the third-largest bank in the state. It is now known as Key Bank.
Stanfield et. al. v. Xerox Corporation, Barry Rand et al.
CA. LA County Superior Court
Case: Sexual Harassment
Outcome: Undisclosed Amount
Description:Ms. Grant represented three women, two of whom were African-American and one Caucasian, who were sexually harassed by their immediate supervisor and subjected to a hostile working environment by Barry Rand, CEO of Xerox Corporation. The overtures included unwanted sexual comments and advances at the workplace, as well as lavish parties with a sexual emphasis. This case settled for an undisclosed amount
Long v. Fred Savage (Wonder Years), et al.
CA LA County Superior Court
Case: Sexual Harassment
Description: Plaintiff was a wardrobe costumer working for the actor, Fred Savage. She was in her early 30’s and Fred was 16 at the time and was one of the highest-paid actors, grossing $75,000 a week. Long claimed inappropriate sexual working environment. Her claim survived 12 demurrers from law firms such as Paul Hastings et al, Howard Weitzman, Esq., as there was sufficient evidence not to dismiss the case based upon sworn declarations.