Outrageous
behavior converts to one of the largest sexual harassment verdicts in America,
$168 million.
In a March 2, 2012 article by Ejoli Francis it is reported that Ani Chopourian won
close to $168 million in a sexual harassment suit against a Sacramento,
California hospital, perhaps the largest victory in U.S. history for a sexual
harassment suit brought by a single employee.
A federal court jury
awarded the 45-year-old former cardiac surgery physician assistant $125 million
in punitive damages, $39 million for mental anguish and $3.5 million for lost
wages and benefits. The award came nearly four years after she claimed she was
terminated for filing complaints repeatedly to the hospital's human resources department.
Chopourian said she was tormented and sexually harassed by surgeons and the
medical staff in the cardiac surgery center at Mercy General from 2006 to 2008.
She said that one surgeon stuck her with a needle, called her a "stupid
chick" and said she did surgery "like a girl."
One harasser told Chopourian
one day, 'You'll give in to me,'" Chopourian is reported to have told ABC
News affiliate KXTV in Sacramento. "I'd look at him [and say] 'I'll never
give in to you.' I'd look at my supervisor and say 'Do something.' They'd just
laugh."
In a two-year period
Chopourian filed about 18 written complaints covering patient safety to sexual
harassment to the fact that meals and break rules were not being followed. Her
last filed complaint was received by human resources July 31, 2008. She was
terminated Aug. 7, 2008.
After Chopourian was
released from Mercy in 2008, she kept her physician assistant privileges at the
hospital and started working for a new doctor in gynecologic oncology. Several
months into her new job, Mercy denied Chopourian's privileges and she lost her
job. Educated at UCLA and Yale, Chopourian has been unemployed for 2.5 years.
Having her privileges denied rendered her unemployable.
For more information on sexual harassment see www.SexualHarassmentPro.com
(Source: ABC News affiliate
KXTV in Sacramento.)
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