Retaliation

Alaska Supreme Court Overturns $2.3 Million Jury Award in Controversial Social Worker Retaliation Case

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An Alaska Supreme Court ruling has invalidated a $2.3 million jury award granted to a former state social worker who had sued her employer for retaliation and wrongful termination. The court upheld the lower court’s decision to deny a motion for a new trial on liability filed by the Office of Children’s Services, while overturning the employee’s award. The agency argued that the jury award duplicated the compensation the plaintiff had already received in workers’ compensation benefits. The Supreme Court determined that there wasn’t enough evidence in the trial record to settle the matter. The … Read more

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Overturns $366 Million Verdict in FedEx Employee’s Retaliation Lawsuit

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HOUSTON, Texas – A recent ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has significant implications for employers regarding race discrimination and retaliation claims. The court overturned a jury verdict that had awarded a Houston-based FedEx employee $366 million in damages. Jennifer Harris, a district sales manager in Texas, filed a race discrimination complaint against her supervisor within the company. In response, Harris was placed on a performance improvement plan. She was later placed on a second plan and ultimately recommended for termination, leading her to believe her supervisor’s actions were pretextual. Harris presented evidence … Read more

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Accused of Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Resulting in Delays for Wildfire Victims

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Sacramento, California – A lawsuit filed at Sacramento County Superior Court accuses a deputy director for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) of sexual harassment and claims that retaliation resulted in a delay in state support for wildfire victims. The plaintiff in the case, identified as Kendra Bowyer, alleges that she experienced a year of inappropriate comments and advances from deputy director Ryan Buras, including non-consensual touching and trying to enter her bed while she was sleeping. The lawsuit also accuses Cal OES of failing to respond to previous reports of harassment … Read more

Former Lawyer Seeks Justice as Davis Polk Battles Retaliation Lawsuit in High-Stakes Trial

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San Francisco, CA – International law firm Davis Polk is set to face trial in a former lawyer’s lawsuit alleging retaliation. The trial is expected to shed light on the firm’s workplace culture and treatment of whistleblowers. The lawsuit, which was filed by a former associate at Davis Polk, accuses the firm of retaliating against her for reporting misconduct by a partner. The plaintiff claims that after she reported the partner’s behavior to the firm’s management, she faced harassment and ultimately was fired. The trial, scheduled to begin on February 24th, 2024, is expected to … Read more