LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Last week it was announced that Carney Shegerian of Shegerian &
Associates, Inc., a Santa Monica-based litigation law firm specializing
in employee rights, obtained a wrongful termination jury verdict for his
client, April Rodriguez. Rodriguez was awarded $16.5 million in punitive
damages on Friday 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. (Case #: BC473793)
This is the largest employment related award of its kind in Los Angeles
legal history.
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury reached an 11-1 decision in the
punitive damages portion of Rodriguez's lawsuit against City of
Industry-based Valley Vista Services Inc. and its parent company, Zerep
Management Corp. Earlier in the week last week, the same jury had
awarded the 34-year-old Rancho Cucamonga woman $5.2 million in
compensatory damages. The jury also found that the companies, owned by
former Industry Mayor David Perez and his brother, Manuel Perez, acted
with malice.
The mother of four credited the work of the jury and her attorneys for
helping her win the case: "Most of all," she said, "I would love to
thank my lawyers Carney Shegerian and Bruce Kokozian. If it wasn't for
the hard work that they put into my case, I would have never gotten
justice. Because of them, my story was heard."
Shegerian and Kokozian maintained the waste disposal company, where
Rodriguez worked as a customer service representative, failed to help
her with her condition -- by not granting her leave time and other
accommodations. The mother of four testified she suffered from panic
attacks - met with skepticism by her supervisor - and was fired as a
result, causing her extreme financial hardship.
She said she hopes her case brings public attention to the fact that
panic attacks are a genuine mental disability and employers should treat
workers fairly and without discrimination.
"It's been an honor to have had the opportunity to represent Ms.
Rodriguez," said Shegerian. "Hopefully this verdict and the justice
served in Ms. Rodriguez's case will put employers on notice that they
cannot discriminate against employees who suffer from health or mental
health conditions."
An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to
verdict in both state and federal court, representing individuals that
have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by
employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a
remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the
workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won over
62 jury trials, including 24 seven figure verdicts representing
employees.
Located Santa Monica, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm
specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged
by their employers. Richly experienced in labor and employment
law and possessing an unparalleled success record as litigators (Carney
Shegerian himself has won over 62 jury trials in his career, including
24 seven figure verdicts, and he remains undefeated in federal jury
trials), Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the
needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.
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