--- title: "Jury Verdict | Blog | Exlitem" meta: "og:title": " Jury Verdict | Blog | Exlitem" --- Jury Verdict Categories ### **Jury Verdict Articles** Explore jury verdict articles and case studies. ## **Search** ## **Filters** [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/CECILIA_CLEVELAND.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-detective-wins-settlement-in-harassment-lawsuit) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) February 17, 2026 ###### [LAPD Detective Wins Settlement in Harassment Lawsuit](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-detective-wins-settlement-in-harassment-lawsuit) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-detective-wins-settlement-in-harassment-lawsuit) Cecilia Cleveland v. City of Los Angeles involves a high-profile employment dispute within the LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics Division (GND). Cleveland, a veteran Latina detective with 33 years of unblemished service, alleged that the arrival of Captain Lillian Carranza in 2021 marked the beginning of a targeted campaign of "pencil whipping"—the practice of accumulating trivial disciplinary claims to undermine a career. The complaint detailed a hostile work environment where Cleveland was allegedly forced to move her desk into a K-9 scent room contaminated by animal waste and subjected to intense scrutiny over minor infractions. After facing her first negative performance review in three decades and losing her hazardous pay bonus, Cleveland sued for race, age, and gender discrimination, as well as whistleblower retaliation. The City maintained that its actions were based on legitimate departmental policy; however, the parties reached an unconditional settlement in June 2024. [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/JOSEPH_WILLIAMS.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/52m-verdict-for-sysco-riverside-whistleblower-retaliation) [**Negligence**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/negligence) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) February 9, 2026 ###### [$52M Verdict for Sysco Riverside Whistleblower Retaliation](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/52m-verdict-for-sysco-riverside-whistleblower-retaliation) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/52m-verdict-for-sysco-riverside-whistleblower-retaliation) A Los Angeles Superior Court jury delivered a staggering blow to Sysco Riverside, Inc., awarding over $52 million to five former employees who stood up against dangerous working conditions. The plaintiffs, who served as yard "spotters," alleged that the food distribution giant maintained a culture that prioritized delivery speed over public and employee safety. After six years of litigation, the jury found that the workers faced systematic harassment and were ultimately forced out of their jobs for reporting safety hazards, such as excessive speeding in the truck yard. The verdict included approximately $31 million in compensatory damages for emotional distress and lost wages, followed by $21.3 million in punitive damages to penalize the company's "malice and oppression". [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/JONES_TIMOTHY1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/jury-clears-sage-dining-services-in-jones-retaliation-case) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) January 13, 2026 ###### [Jury Clears Sage Dining Services in Jones Retaliation Case](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/jury-clears-sage-dining-services-in-jones-retaliation-case) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/jury-clears-sage-dining-services-in-jones-retaliation-case) A Middlesex County jury delivered a defense verdict in favor of Sage Dining Services, Inc., ending a legal challenge brought by former Food Service Director Timothy Jones. Jones had alleged that the company terminated his employment in December 2022 as direct retaliation for his efforts to report sexual harassment involving a district manager. While the plaintiff argued that his firing occurred immediately after he escalated these concerns to Human Resources, the defense maintained that all employment decisions were made in good faith for legitimate business reasons. After reviewing the evidence, the jury found that Jones did not meet the burden of proof required for a retaliation claim under Connecticut law, resulting in a total victory for the employer. [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/uc-irvine-harassment-case-87m-verdict-for-plaintiff) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) August 4, 2025 ###### [UC Irvine Harassment Case: $8.7M Verdict for Plaintiff](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/uc-irvine-harassment-case-87m-verdict-for-plaintiff) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/uc-irvine-harassment-case-87m-verdict-for-plaintiff) Rachel Crary, a former UC Irvine employee, was awarded $8,685,192 by a jury after proving sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination by Professor John Guzowski and The Regents of the University of California. The jury found the defendants liable for multiple violations including hostile work environment, quid pro quo harassment, and constructive termination. The Regents denied wrongdoing, citing legal immunities and procedural defenses, but the verdict marked a landmark decision in university accountability. [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/2-2m-verdict-against-global-win-for-retaliating-against-whistleblower-cfo) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Termination**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/termination) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) February 20, 2025 ###### [$2.2M Verdict Against Global Win for Retaliating Against Whistleblower CFO](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/2-2m-verdict-against-global-win-for-retaliating-against-whistleblower-cfo) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/2-2m-verdict-against-global-win-for-retaliating-against-whistleblower-cfo) [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-whistleblower-retaliation-case-jury-awards-3-million-to-former-swat-sergeant-over-mafia-culture-claims) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) December 6, 2024 ###### [LAPD Whistleblower Retaliation Case: Jury Awards $3 Million to Former SWAT Sergeant Over 'Mafia' Culture Claims](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-whistleblower-retaliation-case-jury-awards-3-million-to-former-swat-sergeant-over-mafia-culture-claims) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/lapd-whistleblower-retaliation-case-jury-awards-3-million-to-former-swat-sergeant-over-mafia-culture-claims) [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/3-9m-retaliation-lawsuit-victory-how-a-deans-support-for-sexual-harassment-victims-changed-his-career) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) October 28, 2024 ###### [$3.9M Retaliation Lawsuit Victory: How a Dean's Support for Sexual Harassment Victims Changed His Career](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/3-9m-retaliation-lawsuit-victory-how-a-deans-support-for-sexual-harassment-victims-changed-his-career) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/3-9m-retaliation-lawsuit-victory-how-a-deans-support-for-sexual-harassment-victims-changed-his-career) [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/946195-verdict-for-green-thumb-produce-inc-employees-in-wrongful-termination-and-harassment-lawsuit) [**Employment Discrimination**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/employment-discrimination-labor-and-employment-law) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Termination**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/termination) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) [**Harrasment**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/harrasment) September 23, 2024 ###### [$946,195 Verdict for Green Thumb Produce, Inc. Employees in Wrongful Termination and Harassment Lawsuit](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/946195-verdict-for-green-thumb-produce-inc-employees-in-wrongful-termination-and-harassment-lawsuit) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/946195-verdict-for-green-thumb-produce-inc-employees-in-wrongful-termination-and-harassment-lawsuit) [![Card Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/default_1.webp)](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/whistleblower-victory-uc-riverside-professor-awarded-6-1m-in-retaliation-lawsuit) [**Labor and Employment Law**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/labor-and-employment-law) [**Retaliation**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/category/retaliation) September 6, 2024 ###### [Whistleblower Victory: UC Riverside Professor Awarded $6.1M in Retaliation Lawsuit](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/whistleblower-victory-uc-riverside-professor-awarded-6-1m-in-retaliation-lawsuit) [](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/category/retaliation/jury-verdict/whistleblower-victory-uc-riverside-professor-awarded-6-1m-in-retaliation-lawsuit)