Sep. 13, 2012
Lawrance A. Bohm
See more on Lawrance A. BohmBohm Law Group Sacramento Litigation Specialty: employment law, personal injury
Bohm devotes his practice to fighting bullies.
"I don't tolerate bullying," he said. "The only way to beat a bully is to fight a bully."
But, he added, "People don't think that lawsuits are about bullying. But we all agree that bullying is horrible and deserves no place in our modern workplace."
In one such case, Bohm represented Ani Chopourian, who worked as a cardiac surgery physician assistant in the cardiovascular operation department of Catholic Healthcare West's Mercy General and Mercy San Juan hospitals. Chopourian v. Catholic Healthcare West, 2:09-CV-02972-KJM-KJN (E.D. Cal., filed Oct. 23, 2009).
Chopourian, who holds a master's of medical science degree from Yale University Medical School, physician associate program, was fired in 2008 after two years of employment.
In the suit, which encompassed whistleblowing, retaliation, sexual harassment and defamation, among other allegations, Chopourian claimed that she endured sexually inappropriate behavior on a daily basis, even during open-heart surgery procedures by the attending physicians.
Chopourian also alleged that during her two-year employment, she repeatedly complained about patient safety, employee safety, meal and rest period violations, abuse of women and hospital conditions.
In February, the jury awarded her $167.7 million - considered the largest single plaintiff employee wrongful termination verdict in U.S. history.
The parties are in mediation, said Bohm, adding, "We hope to resolve the case."
"It was an epic battle and a satisfying victory in every way," he said. "The gift of this case - the secret is out. Employees do have power. But things won't begin to change until employees understand that they have this right, and this is a magnificent way of getting the word out."
- PAT BRODERICK
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