A dental technology company has obtained a $6.8 million judgment against a former employee accused of stealing the company’s designs. The federal district court in Central California entered the judgment after finding the defendant, Jian Lu, liable for stealing trade secrets. Sirona Dental Systems Inc., et al. v. Jian Lu, No. 2:15-cv-08777 (C.D. Cal.
The Significance of Expert Testimony
Expert testimony can play a significant role in shaping the outcome of cases that go to trial. For example, in a case lacking witnesses or evidence that could directly support or undercut the plaintiff’s accusations of severe sexual misconduct, what stood out most was the expert testimony.
On August 8, 2017, a two-week jury trial
Jury Awards $4.5 Million to Hospital Employee for Discrimination and Retaliation
A plaintiff has been awarded $4.45 million for an age discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation action he filed under state law in a court in Iowa against his former employer. Gregory Hawkins v. Grinnell Regional Medical Center, et al., No. 08791 LALA002281. The award included $220,009 in back pay, $2 million in emotional distress damages,
Former Big League Pitcher Awarded More than $1.5 Million for Wrongful Termination
A New Jersey jury in the Superior Court of New Jersey for Camden County has awarded former Major League Baseball pitcher Mitchell Williams $1,565,333 in a wrongful termination action he filed against MLB Network, Inc. Mitchell Williams v. The MLB Network, Inc., et al., No. L-3675-14.
Williams, nicknamed “Wild Thing,” played professional baseball from
Company Defeats $6 Million Whistleblower Claim at Trial
A California jury in Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, has ruled against an avionics technician, who filed a $6 million whistleblower claim against SpaceX – Elon Musk’s rocket startup company. Blasdell v. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., et al., No. BC615112.
Plaintiff Jason Blasdell alleged that his employment with
Jury Waiver Unenforceable For Inadequate Notice of Claims Covered
A New Jersey appeals court has declined to enforce a jury waiver as to statutorily protected whistleblower rights because the provision at issue failed to state adequately the right being surrendered and the claims that were affected.
A former employee argued that the jury waiver in his employment contract did not preempt his statutory right
Who is the Similarly Situated Comparator?
To prove claims of employment discrimination and retaliation, plaintiffs frequently rely on the similarly situated comparator — a coworker who engaged in the same misconduct alleged against the plaintiff, but without the same adverse consequences. Indeed, employers defending such claims often receive exceptionally broad pretrial discovery requests for information about coworkers who engaged in similar
$4.5 Million Disability Discrimination Verdict Against Auto Dealer Who Failed to Investigate
A federal jury in Florida has awarded $4.5 million against an auto dealer for claims of disability discrimination under the Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA). Axel v. Fields Motorcars of Florida, Inc., No. 8:15-cv-893-17JSS (M.D. Fla. Feb. 22, 2017). The verdict consisted of $680,000 in lost wages and benefits, $600,000 for emotional pain and
Using Electronically Stored Information in Employment Trials
In employment litigation, evidence now admitted during most trials routinely includes electronically stored information (ESI), including email communications and documents the receipt of which is often acknowledged with a mouse click. Trial counsel must know how to authenticate such ESI to ensure the court will allow it into evidence. Counsel also should be aware of
How Big Data Can Predict The Outcome of An Employment Trial
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The legal industry has turned to data analytics to keep litigation costs down. Companies can analyze litigation data on courts, judges, opposing counsel, and substantive evidentiary materials that affect liability. They are then better positioned to spot trends, predict exposure, and make strategic litigation decisions with greater efficiency.
In the Digital Age, a company’s data