Dive Transient:
- Liberty Mutual Insurance coverage Co. must pay $103 million to a former worker who alleged the corporate discriminated towards and harassed her due to her age, amongst different claims, in accordance with court docket paperwork.
- The employee alleged that she was terminated in violation of California’s Truthful Employment and Housing Act after taking short-term incapacity depart to handle her hypertension, which had worsened due to her hostile work atmosphere, per court docket filings within the Superior Court docket of California, County of Los Angeles (Slagel v. Liberty Mutual Insurance coverage Co.).
- A jury in early December discovered the insurance coverage firm had dedicated age harassment, discrimination and retaliation and awarded the previous employee $83 million in punitive damages, $15 million for previous noneconomic losses and $5 million for future noneconomic losses. Liberty Mutual didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Dive Perception:
The previous worker filed the lawsuit towards Liberty Mutual in January 2017, after being terminated in June of the earlier yr.
She was granted short-term incapacity depart from April 19, 2016, to June 29, 2016, however was informed {that a} courier would decide up her firm laptop computer whereas she was on depart, with out clarification. Upon her return to work, her parking card and badge didn’t work, and she or he was instantly known as right into a convention room, the place she was allegedly fired with out cause.
“Her employment was terminated for unlawful causes based mostly on her age and incapacity after 31 years of loyal service to Liberty Mutual,” in accordance with the grievance.
The plaintiff mentioned she was amongst a slew of employees who had been terminated for his or her age and that she was changed with a employee in his 20s.
Attorneys for the plaintiff mentioned that is “believed to be the biggest age discrimination verdict ever recorded in the US.”
“This verdict is a powerful message to firms nationwide: age discrimination is unlawful, it’s dangerous, and juries will maintain employers accountable,” Justin Shegerian, lead trial legal professional and founding father of Shegerian & Associates, mentioned in an announcement.
