Arbitration Awards, Trial Verdicts And Settlements

$2.2 Million Arbitration Award Against Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. — after a one-week arbitration in Del Mar, Ceartas Legal obtained a $2.2 million arbitration award for a client who was fired after requesting to take time off, including time off under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) to care for his spouse who was receiving treatment for cancer. The Arbitrator ruled that the employer was liable for lost past and future wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages.

Doe v. Del Mar Zoo — Ceartas Legal tried a three-week jury trial against the Del Mar Zoo, involving a client who, after over 30 years of employment, was fired after complaining about gender discrimination in the workplace. The jury voted 8-4 in favor of Ceartas Legal’s client. The case resolved on confidential terms shortly after the trial.

Doe v. Bridgepoint, Inc. — Ceartas Legal tried a one-week arbitration in Del Mar against a large for-profit university on behalf of a client who alleged she was retaliated against for complaining to the company about a sexual assault at a work-related function, and other unlawful employment practices. The case resolved on confidential terms shortly after the arbitration.

Doe v. Del Mar Company — in the middle of a jury trial, Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $395,000 on behalf of a 26-year employee
who worked as a gardener for a famous Del Mar company. After the client became injured on the job, the employer refused to give her an accommodation for her disability. Eventually the company fired the client claiming it had no alternative work the client could perform.

BuMiller v. Del Mar Zoo — Ceartas Legal tried a two-and-a-half week bench trial against the Del Mar Zoo, representing a client who suffered from Type I Diabetes who was forced to resign after the Del Mar Zoo would not grant her the accommodation of allowing her to test her blood sugar on the job. The bench award in favor of Ceartas’ client resulted in a judgment well in excess of $300,000.

Case Results and Settlements

FMLA/Medical Leave Retaliation

Doe v. Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. — Ceartas Legal obtained an arbitration award of $2,200,000, including $500,000 in punitive damages and approximately $600,000 in attorneys’ fees for a client who was fired only one week after formally requesting family medical leave to take care of his cancer stricken spouse.

Disability Discrimination/Failure to Accommodate

$690,000: Doe v. National Restaurant Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $690,000 on behalf of a client who worked for a prominent national restaurant company. The client had taken a medical leave of absence and needed additional time off to recover before returning to work. Instead of allowing the client to extend his leave of absence, the company fired him without considering any accommodations for the client.

$395,000: Doe v. Del Mar Company — in the middle of a jury trial, Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $395,000 on behalf of a woman who worked for 26 years as a gardener for a large Del Mar employer. After she became injured, the company ignored her requests for accommodation, refused to help her find alternate work she could perform, and eventually fired her.

$350,000: Doe v. Large For Profit University — Ceartas Legal obtained a $350,000 settlement almost immediately after filing the case, on behalf of a client who worked for a national for-profit university. The client had taken a FMLA leave of absence. The company hired a replacement for the client while she was on her medical leave, and then fired the client without attempting to find the client an alternate position within the company.

$300,000: Doe v. Large Healthcare Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $300,000 for a client who worked as a nurse for a large healthcare company. The client suffered an injury after being attacked at work by a patient. The company refused to help the client find an accommodation and fired her.

$175,000: Doe v. Internet Marketing Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a $175,000 settlement on behalf of a sales and marketing employee of a small internet marketing company. The client was fired shortly after he had to take time off due to an injury and attempted to return to work needing a minor accommodation.

Gender Discrimination

$950,000: Doe v. Fortune 100 Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $950,000 on behalf of a woman who had been a long-time employee of a Fortune 100 company. The client was forced to resign after years of being passed over for promotion in favor of less qualified male employees, and after being retaliated against for supporting other women in their gender discrimination complaints.

Sexual Harassment

$400,00: Doe v. Del Mar Technology Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $400,000 in the middle of a jury trial on behalf of a woman who was harassed and stalked by the CEO of her former employer. When she refused the CEO’s sexual advances, she was promptly fired.

$285,000: Doe v. Regional Del Mar Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $285,000 for a client who suffered sexual harassment by her supervisor and reported the harassment. The harassment and retaliation reached such an unbearable level that the client was forced to resign.

$200,000: Doe v. National Manufacturing Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $200,000 against a national manufacturing company on behalf of a client who suffered sexual harassment from her supervisor and was then further harassed and retaliated against by her employer after reporting the sexual harassment.

$180,000: Doe v. National For-Profit University — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $180,000 almost immediately after filing the case on behalf of an admissions representative at a for-profit university who suffered sexual harassment from a co-worker.

Retaliation

$300,000: Doe v. Regional Property Management Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $300,000 on behalf of an employee of a regional company. The client experienced harassment as soon as she started working for the company and promptly complained to the company’s management and human resources. Soon after, the company fired the client.

$300,000: Doe v. Famous Del Mar Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $300,000 in a case against a world-famous Del Mar company. Ceartas’ client worked for the company for over 30 years with a stellar record of employment. But when the client reported gender discrimination, the employer retaliated against her and terminated her employment.

Whistleblower Retaliation

$295,000: Doe v. Local Health Care Provider — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $295,000 on behalf of a registered nurse who was fired after she reported health and safety violations committed by her employer.

$180,000: Doe v. Large For Profit University — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $180,000 in a case against a large national for- profit university on behalf of a client who was fired after reporting the company’s unlawful admissions practices.

$150,000: Doe v. Medical Provider — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $150,000 in a case against a national sleep medicine company in a case on behalf of a client who was fired after reporting the company’s fraudulent Medicare practices.

Wage and Hour

$1.5 Million: Class Action against Senior Living Facility — Ceartas Legal obtained a class action settlement of $1.5 million dollars on behalf of a class of care givers who were deprived of overtime compensation, meal and rest breaks, and reimbursement for business expenses.

$200,000: Does v. Food Delivery Company — Ceartas Legal obtained a settlement of $200,000 on behalf of four food delivery drivers who were denied mileage reimbursement by the employer who improperly classified them as independent contractors instead of employees.