Jury Awards Cal. Man $18M for Harassment

http://www.lasvegassun.com/ ^ | October 27, 2006 | AP

[teldon30]

Jury Awards Cal. Man $18M for Harassment LOS ANGELES (AP) - A jury has ordered The Vons Companies Inc. to pay more than $18 million in damages to a former employee who claimed the supermarket chain fired him after he filed a report accusing a female supervisor of sexual harassment.

The Simi Valley jury awarded more than $16 million in punitive damages to James Stevens on Friday, two days after ordering Vons to pay the one-time inventory clerk $1.7 million for economic loss and emotional distress, said attorney Gloria Allred, who represented Stevens.

Stevens, a Ventura County resident who worked for Vons for 25 years, was fired in May 2004. He sued the company that November.

During a monthlong trial, Stevens testified the supervisor subjected him to various forms harassment. In addition to making sexual remarks, Stevens told jurors the supervisor at one point simulated sex with a feather duster.

"I hope my victory will inspire others to come forward if they are being mistreated at work knowing that the law protects them," Stevens, 48, said in a statement.

Vons intends to appeal, said its spokeswoman, Sandra Calderon.

"We do not think that the evidence supported any of Mr. Stevens' claims and believe the damage award was excessive," Calderon said.

Vons, a unit of Safeway Inc., has 325 stores in Southern Califonia and Nevada, according to its Web site.

[Screamname]

What I want to know is when the hell somebody in Washington is going to do something about the out of control suits in healthcare that is driving insurance through the roof. I meet doctors everyday and you just would not believe the stories they tell me...Obstetricians for one paying upwards of $250 THOUSAND dollars a year in insurance! Can you imagine? Just to deliver a freggin` baby they has to pay a quarter of a mill a year in litigation insurance so some crackhead who delivers a kid with flippers doesn`t take his house.

I had jury duty a few years ago, and I couldn`t take it...Every case they called me for was a malpractice suit, and I actually got into a heated debate with one lawyer calling him a freggin` leech. It was ridiculous, some guy who doesn`t see a doctor for 15 years and he`s blaming the doc because he has terminal cancer, stuff like that. And then they line up jurors who they know will believe any BS they say, and they end up awarding some moron $20 million and as a result the insurance goes up even more.

I mean think about it, if car mechanics were sued at the level the health care profession is, it would cost you $50 grand to get a fan belt put in! This nonsense has got to stop, but all you get is "oh we need national healthcare" from the democrats. This new movie Michael Moore is making on healthcare, how much you want to bet not once will he mention out of control lawsuits? I`ll bet anything that whole movie will portray doctors as greedy bastards and lawyers as the heroes.

[teldon30]

You weren't clear in your post...come on...tell us how you really feel....








just kidding...i agree wit' ya ;)

[dennisw]

/

[HKMk23]

Blood from a turnip.

Yeah, but don't ever try that one on the IRS; believe me they CAN do it.

[robertpaulsen]

It would be a step in the right direction if punitive awards went to the state, a non-profit, or a charity. Why should the plaintif (and his attorney) receive it -- he's already been compensated for economic loss and emotional distress.

[Disambiguator]

We'll need to see pictures of the female supervisor to make a final judgement on this case.

;^)

[sully777]

"You're a godd@mn genius, Snarks!"

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1727271/posts

Tort Reform Texas Style New laws devastate plaintiff and defense firms alike

[pilipo]

"I hope my victory will inspire others to come forward if and pretend they are being mistreated at work knowing that the law protects can be mis-applied and reward them," Stevens, 48, said in a statement.

This is a start, but seems inadequate somehow.

[Amerigomag]

Where do we find 12 people who can reach these decisions?

Are they imported from a special asylum in Graz or is there a an inbreeding farm in Appalachia where plaintiff's attorney go to strike gold.

[Slings and Arrows]

Where do we find 12 people who can reach these decisions?

From the same pool Jerry Springer gets his guests from.

[Millee]

Hey stud, great ping!!

Oops dropped my pen, mind getting that for me??? ;o)

[Tribune7]

To the trial lawyers who cook up our laws, we are all geese.

[Mashood]

No. California has plenty to farm. Land of fruits and nuts, you know.

[snarks_when_bored]

"You're a godd@mn genius, Snarks!"

"It's a curse, Sully."

[sully777]

(phew)...glad you understood my post as a joke.

[snarks_when_bored]

(laugh) I've just gotten back to posting. No worries, mate!

[sully777]

There was an old SNL skit with Lily Tomlin (early SNL) She was a construction worker with all the other female actresses. IIRC, Dan Akroid walks by the site and all the women start whooping and hollering. Akroid starts to feel harassed and runs off.

My FIL's brothers worked in plants during WWII and told me that the women were very blue without any men around. The three brothers were teens and were subjected to much harassment, which they took in stride.