As I always say, “What do I know?”
Based on the information I had, I felt that this should have been a summary judgment case for the Los Angeles Times. But the jury in Los Angeles did not agree. Law360 (and some of our readers – thank you!) reports that the jury came back with a verdict for former sports columnist T.J. Simers in his age and disability discrimination case of $7.2 million. Mr. Simers had originally sued for $18 million and, after the trial, asked the jury for roughly $12 million.
According to the Law360 article (paid subscription required), the award consisted of $330,358 in past economic damages, $1.8 million in future economic damages, and $5 million in past and future non-economic damages (pain and suffering, I presume).
I suspect the Times will try to get the verdict set aside or, if that fails, will appeal.
Thanks again to Daniel Siegal of Law360 for his continuing coverage of this case, and to the readers who emailed me about the verdict this evening.
Here are links my prior coverage of this case, from start to finish:
It’s the World Series of discrimination trials! Catch it!
Shrink says sports columnist may not recover from depression
T.J. Simers discrimination trial: Are you paranoid if they really ARE out to get you?
Has he folded under questioning?
“He lied, and he went too far!”
At last, the “ethical breach”!
Robin Shea is a Partner with the law firm of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP and has more than 20 years’ experience in employment litigation, including Title VII and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (including the Amendments Act), the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act; and class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage-hour laws; defense of audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs; and labor relations. She conducts training for human resources professionals, management, and employees on a wide variety of topics.
