- Practice: Intellectual Property
- Time: 3 Months
- Lawyer: Christine Judge
- Location: New York, US
Background
The case was a highly publicized employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a former employee against her former employer, Johnson & Co., a large corporation. Smith, who was a sales representative for the company, claimed that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and gender-based discrimination after returning from maternity leave.
Specifically, she alleged that her male colleagues and supervisors made offensive comments about her pregnancy and motherhood, and that her workload was unfairly increased, leading to burnout and ultimately, her resignation from the company.
Approach
In preparation for trial, our legal team conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations, gathering evidence of the discriminatory behavior and interviewing key witnesses. We also obtained records of Proven’s employment history, including performance evaluations and documentation of her complaints to HR. Our strategy was to build a strong case for Proven’s claim by demonstrating the pervasive nature of the discrimination and its impact on her ability to perform her job duties.
We also anticipated that the company would argue that Proven’s resignation was a voluntary decision and not related to the discriminatory behavior. To counter this argument, we prepared evidence showing that Proven had made repeated attempts to address the issue through internal channels before ultimately deciding to file suit.
Result
After a week-long trial, the jury delivered a verdict in favor of our client. The court awarded her $500,000 in compensatory damages for emotional distress and lost wages, as well as punitive damages of $1 million against Johnson & Co. The court also granted Proven’s request for injunctive relief, requiring the company to implement policies aimed at preventing similar discrimination in the future.
This significant victory not only provided financial relief for our client but also sent a powerful message about the importance of ensuring a fair and inclusive work environment for all employees.
