Latest jury verdicts, settlements, and legal outcome analysis
Dr. Haiying Huang sued the University of Texas at Arlington over alleged discrimination and retaliation. A Northern District of Texas jury found for Huang on several employment-related questions and awarded $75,000 in damages.
Lisa Pousson sued Lianna D'Andrea and several entities after a golf cart accident at the Resort at Massey's Landing in Delaware. Pousson alleged she was ejected from the rear of a golf cart during a U-turn on September 4, 2021. She claimed negligent driving, negligent entrustment, inadequate supervision, and premises liability. She claimed injuries including traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, and spinal damage. The jury found that D'Andrea, Sun Communities, and Blue Water Hospitality Management were not negligent. Pousson received no damages award.
A Southern District of New York jury awarded $2,417,000 to a former WPIX-TV entertainment anchor who alleged the station terminated her in retaliation for complaining about race discrimination. The jury found that WPIX would not have ended Ojinika Obiekwe's employment absent her complaints. It awarded $1,137,000 in compensatory damages and $1,280,000 in punitive damages.
A federal jury found Northwest Arkansas Hospitals liable for sex discrimination against surgical technician Efrin Chavez after doctors restricted his participation in certain labor and delivery procedures. The jury awarded Chavez $5,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
A federal jury in Portland found that Nike paid former engineer Heather Hender less than male employees and promoted her more slowly because of her sex. The jury awarded $19,739.52 under the Federal Equal Pay Act, plus $7.5 million in Title VII punitive damages and $7.5 million under Oregon law.
A Massachusetts federal jury awarded $88 million to an Alabama man and his wife over a Symbotex hernia mesh implant. The jury found Covidien liable for negligent failure to warn, an innocent false statement, and concealment.
A jury in Porter Superior Court awarded $18,500,000 to Brian Mischka after a breaker bar struck his foot during a steel loading operation at Steel Warehouse of Burns Harbor, LLC. The jury assigned 0% fault to Brian and 100% fault to Steel Warehouse. Wendy Mischka received $800,000 on her loss of consortium claim.
Nora Garcia won a $3,773,873 jury verdict after a Los Angeles County jury found PCL Construction Services, Inc. negligent. The case arose from a 2024 trip and fall at Orange High School in Orange, California. Jurors assigned PCL 65% of the responsibility for her harm.
A federal jury in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee found Ryan Upchurch liable to David Robertson and Daniel Rodni for defamation per se and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury awarded $17.5 million in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages. Upchurch later sought judgment as a matter of law, a new trial, or remittitur.
A West Virginia federal jury awarded $5 million to Marietta Area Healthcare, Marietta Memorial Hospital, and Marietta Healthcare Physicians. The jury found Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital Corporation liable for civil conspiracy and vicarious liability tied to a qui tam action.
