Lathrop v. HealthCare Partners Med. Group, 114 Cal. App. 4th 1412 (2004)
Terry Lathrop and her husband sued HealthCare Partners, among others, for their failure to diagnose her breast cancer. The jury apportioned 58% of the fault to HealthCare Partners, which argued that it was subject to the $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages that is set forth in the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act
Moreau v. Air France, 356 F.3d 942 (9th Cir. 2003)
Stephane Moreau worked as the Assistant Station Manager for Air France at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Moreau requested a 12-week leave of absence under the Family Medical Leave Act and the California Family Rights Act to assist his ill father in France. Air France denied Moreau’s request on the ground that it employed
Ali v. L.A. Focus Publication, 112 Cal. App. 4th 1477 (2003)
Najee Ali, who worked as the community affairs columnist for L.A. Focus Publication, was terminated after he expressed support while a guest on a local radio program for Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, and criticized United States Representative Maxine Waters for supporting another candidate, James Hahn, in the upcoming
Liu v. Amway Corp., 347 F.3d 1125 (9th Cir. 2003)
Xin Liu lost her job as a scientist in the Concentrate Development Department of the Nutrilite Division of Amway approximately 18 months after she was hired. Liu, who was on a leave of absence following her pregnancy, was informed that her position had been eliminated during a downsizing that followed a merger of her
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. WCAB, 112 Cal. App. 4th 1435 (2003)
Velta Elaine Garcia suffered an orthopedic injury to her back while employed by Wal-Mart. At the time of the injury, Garcia had worked at Wal-Mart for fewer than six months. Four years after the incident, Garcia amended her workers’ compensation claim to assert that she had suffered damage to her psyche resulting from
Taylor v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 113 Cal. App. 4th 380 (2003)
Walter Taylor filed suit against Lockheed Martin Corporation alleging, among other things, wrongful termination in violation of Labor Code §§ 1102.5 and 6310 (prohibiting retaliation against an employee who has complained about unsafe working conditions in the workplace). Taylor, a member of the International Association of Machinists, also filed a grievance with the
Murphy v. Schneider Nat’l, Inc., 349 F.3d 1224 (9th Cir. 2003)
Charles E. Murphy was injured on premises owned by Trane Company while he was working as a long-haul trucker for Schneider National, Inc. Murphy filed a personal injury action against Schneider (which had failed to maintain a workers’ compensation policy) and Trane in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
2,022 Ranch, LLC v. Superior Court, 113 Cal. App. 4th 1377 (2003)
A purchaser of land (2,022 Ranch, LLC) sued its title insurer (Chicago Title) for breach of contract and bad faith. During the course of the litigation, 2,022 Ranch sought documents from Chicago Title’s claims file and also to depose claims handlers and their supervisors concerning Chicago Title’s handling of and refusal to
Varian Med. Sys., Inc. v. Delfino, 113 Cal. App. 4th 273, 6 Cal.Rptr.3d 325 (2003)
Varian and two of its executives, George Zdasiuk and Susan B. Felch, sued two former employees, Michelangelo Delfino and Mary Day, after Delfino and Day used Internet bulletin boards to post more than 13,000 derogatory messages about Varian and the two executives. Among other things, Delfino (whose employment Varian
Barbee v. Household Auto. Fin. Corp., 113 Cal. App. 4th 525 (2003)
Household Automotive Finance Corporation (HAFC) terminated the employment of its national sales manager, Robert Barbee, after learning that Barbee had a “special relationship” with one of his subordinate employees and after giving Barbee the choice of either ending the relationship or effecting his or the subordinate employee’s resignation. Barbee sued HAFC for