Ex-UCLA Phlebotomist Awarded $1.6 Million in Harassment Lawsuit

Headshot of attorney George IndestBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On August 7, 2019, a jury awarded almost $1.6 million to a woman who alleged she was fired for complaining about coworker’s subjecting her to racial insults and discriminatory comments at her job. Nicole Birden claimed that UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, failed to investigate when supervisors harassed and insulted her and several other African-American employees. Additionally, she alleged that she was fired from her job as a phlebotomist after raising concerns about the issue, according to the verdict filed in  Los Angeles Superior Court.

Alleged Hostile Work Environment.

According to Birdnne’s complaint, she began working at UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, as a phlebotomist in 2015. Shortly after, she claims coworkers made disparaging remarks about the color of her skin and racially stereotyped her in Spanish. In June of 2016, the UC Board of Regents abruptly terminated her employment despite the fact that she had never previously received any kind of disciplinary action against her.

Following her termination she filed a complaint in 2017, alleging that the UCLA Health created a hostile work environment. Additionally, she alleges that the University of California Board of Regents violated California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act for harassment, race and age discrimination, and retaliation, according to the complaint.

To read the verdict for this case in full, click here.

Click here to read one of my prior blogs that also deals with discrimination in the workplace.

Contact Health Attorneys Experienced in Health Law and Employment Law.

The Health Law Firm represents both employers and employees in the health care industry in defending allegations of employment discrimination and other complaints from employees and patients. We represent employers and employees in unemployment compensation hearings, in defending against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, and in defending litigation involving wage and hour disputes, as well as other types of contract or employment litigation. We also can investigate such allegations and attempt to negotiate settlements where warranted. Our attorneys represent individuals and institutions in litigation, civil or administrative, state or federal.

To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

“UC Regents to Pay $1.5 Million in Hostile Work Environment Case.” Associated Press. (August 7, 2019). Web.

Stawiki. Kevin. “Ex-UCLA Blood Tech Wins $1.6M In Racial Harassment Suit.” Law360. (August 7, 2019). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Legal representation for healthcare employee discrimination, legal representation for home health facilities, nursing home legal representation, home health care facility legal presentation, nursing law defense attorney, legal representation for discrimination in health facilities, intentional infliction of emotional distress lawyers, legal representation for physicians and health facilities accused of wrongdoing, defense lawyer for health facilities and doctors, legal representation for physicians, legal representation for nurses, legal representation for health care facilities, health care facility defense attorney, legal representation for sexual harassment and discrimination, employment law, legal representation for health employment matters, employment law defense attorney for health providers, unemployment compensation hearings for health facilities, defending health facilities against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, defending health facilities in litigation involving wage and hour disputes, legal representation for health and medical contract law, legal representation for medical and health contract litigation, legal representation for employment litigation in health facilities, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Former UCLA Phlebotomist Awarded Nearly $1.6 Million in Harassment Suit

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On August 7, 2019, a jury awarded almost $1.6 million to a woman who alleged she was fired for complaining about coworker’s subjecting her to racial insults and discriminatory comments at her job. Nicole Birden claimed that UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, failed to investigate when supervisors harassed and insulted her and several other African-American employees. Additionally, she alleged that she was fired from her job as a phlebotomist after raising concerns about the issue, according to the verdict filed in  Los Angeles Superior Court.

Alleged Hostile Work Environment.

According to Birdnne’s complaint, she began working at UCLA Medical Center Santa Monica, as a phlebotomist in 2015. Shortly after, she claims coworkers made disparaging remarks about the color of her skin and racially stereotyped her in Spanish. In June of 2016, the UC Board of Regents abruptly terminated her employment despite the fact that she had never previously received any kind of disciplinary action against her.

Following her termination she filed a complaint in 2017, alleging that the UCLA Health created a hostile work environment. Additionally, she alleges that the University of California Board of Regents violated California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act for harassment, race and age discrimination, and retaliation, according to the complaint.

To read the verdict for this case in full, click here.

Click here to read one of my prior blogs that also deals with discrimination in the workplace.

Contact Health Attorneys Experienced in Health Law and Employment Law.

The Health Law Firm represents both employers and employees in the health care industry in defending allegations of employment discrimination and other complaints from employees and patients. We represent employers and employees in unemployment compensation hearings, in defending against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, and in defending litigation involving wage and hour disputes, as well as other types of contract or employment litigation. We also can investigate such allegations and attempt to negotiate settlements where warranted. Our attorneys represent individuals and institutions in litigation, civil or administrative, state or federal.

To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

“UC Regents to Pay $1.5 Million in Hostile Work Environment Case.” Associated Press. (August 7, 2019). Web.

Stawiki. Kevin. “Ex-UCLA Blood Tech Wins $1.6M In Racial Harassment Suit.” Law360. (August 7, 2019). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Legal representation for healthcare employee discrimination, legal representation for home health facilities, nursing home legal representation, home health care facility legal presentation, nursing law defense attorney, legal representation for discrimination in health facilities, intentional infliction of emotional distress lawyers, legal representation for physicians and health facilities accused of wrongdoing, defense lawyer for health facilities and doctors, legal representation for physicians, legal representation for nurses, legal representation for health care facilities, health care facility defense attorney, legal representation for sexual harassment and discrimination, employment law, legal representation for health employment matters, employment law defense attorney for health providers, unemployment compensation hearings for health facilities, defending health facilities against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, defending health facilities in litigation involving wage and hour disputes, legal representation for health and medical contract law, legal representation for medical and health contract litigation, legal representation for employment litigation in health facilities, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Nursing Home Chain Hit With $1.5 Million Verdict in Sex Discrimination Lawsuit as Jury Sides with Former Employee

IndestBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 2, 2017, a former elder care facility executive was awarded a $1.5 million verdict by a federal jury in Washington state. Irene Riggs claims she was fired for complaining about the “sexually charged” environment created by a supervisor’s inappropriate conduct with a nurse. After a three-day trial, the jury awarded her over $232,000 in lost wages up to the date of trial, nearly $802,000 in future lost wages and $500,000 for loss of enjoyment of life after she was fired by Tennessee-based Life Care Centers of America Inc. (Life Care).

Alleged Sex Discrimination.

In her suit, the plaintiff alleged that she was subjected to a “sexually charged atmosphere” by a regional vice president, who was her supervisor beginning in 2013, and a registered nurse with whom he was purportedly in a relationship. Riggs alleged the two fondled each other in an office and regularly engaged in intimate conversation, among other inappropriate things, according to court documents. Additionally, she complained on behalf of herself and colleagues about the conduct directly to the regional vice president, who allegedly became angry and later lodged a complaint with human resources.

In a pretrial brief, the plaintiff said that Life Care’s primary reason for firing her (mental abuse of a resident by unplugging his television) was not true and used as a cover for the real reason. In response, Life Care said that her firing couldn’t constitute discrimination. The company argued that she didn’t report a quid pro quo relationship or a hostile work environment, which are the two types of sex discrimination recognized by the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

She was employed at Life Care’s Sandpoint facility from September 2006 until she was fired on February 1, 2016.

The Jury’s Decision.

The jury determined that Riggs had provided sufficient evidence to show that she opposed what she believed was sex discrimination. Moreover, she was able to show that her report of alleged misconduct by a supervisor was a substantial motivating factor in her firing, and that Life Care didn’t offer a valid justification for her dismissal, according to the verdict.

To read the jury’s verdict in this case, click here.

To learn about a similar case involving sexual harassment and discrimination, click here to read one of my prior blogs.

Contact Health Attorneys Experienced in Health Law and Employment Law.

The Health Law Firm represents both employers and employees in the health care industry in defending allegations of employment discrimination and other complaints from employees and patients. We represent employers in unemployment compensation hearings, in defending against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, and in defending litigation involving wage and hour disputes, as well as other types of contract or employment litigation. We also can investigate such allegations and attempt to negotiate settlements where warranted. Our attorneys represent individuals and institutions in litigation, civil or administrative, state or federal.

To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Gurrieri, Vin. “Nursing Home Chain Hit With $1.5M Verdict In Sex Bias Suit.” Law360. (November 2, 2017). Web.

“Nursing Home Chain Hit With $1.5M Verdict In Sex Bias Lawsuit.” Lexis Nexis. (November 2, 2017). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Legal representation for workplace discrimination, legal representation for employee discrimination, legal representation for nursing homes, legal representation for elder care facilities, legal representation for home health facilities, nursing home representation, home health care facility representation, nursing law defense attorney, elder care facility representation, legal representation for nurses, legal representation for health care facilities, health care facility defense attorney, legal representation for sexual harassment and discrimination, employment law, legal representation for employment matters, employment law defense attorney, unemployment compensation hearings, defending against EEOC (discrimination) complaints, defending litigation involving wage and hour disputes, legal representation for contract law, legal representation for contract litigation, legal representation for employment litigation, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2017 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

 

Go to Top