Lawrance A. Bohm

Bohm was five years out of law school when he launched Bohm Law Group in 2005, focusing on workplace disputes. Within the next decade, he won what are said to be the two largest single-plaintiff employment awards in U.S. history: $168 million over working conditions at Catholic Healthcare West in 2012 and $186 million over gender discrimination suit at AutoZone Inc. in 2014.

"People know me for my very large verdicts," he said. "They've helped set the legal landscape."

Of course, such verdicts are rare. Most of Bohm's other trial successes have fallen into the $1 million to $2 million range. But that's not bad for a guy who started his career defending employers, before opening his plaintiffs firm because he felt it would be "more deeply satisfying" to represent workers.

"Most people spend a large portion of their lives in the workplace, so it's important to make sure they're protected from discrimination, harassment or unsafe conditions," he said.

Bohm's first big break came when he took the case of Ani Chopourian, a physician's assistant who had been fired from Sacramento's Mercy General Hospital, owned by Catholic Healthcare West, now known as Dignity Health. Chopourian said she was fired in retaliation for 18 written complaints she sent to management alleging safety violations, mismanaged care, sexual harassment and bullying by doctors.

Bohm said such cases can be challenging. "When a person sues after being fired, there's often a public perception that 'Aw, it's just somebody trying to put the screws to their employer,'" he said.

In addition, he said, witnesses may be unwilling to come forward, fearing the employer will retaliate. "Sometimes, they start out being helpful and then come down with a case of amnesia," he said.

But four strong witnesses testified on Chopourian's behalf, including a former supervisor. The case was bolstered by California laws that encourage health workers to report flaws in medical care and penalize employers who retaliate. In Chopourian's case, the retaliation allegedly went beyond her firing, as Mercy took steps that led her next employer to fire her and made it hard to find work elsewhere.

After Chopourian described her working conditions — ranging from constant exposure to sex talk to seeing a surgeon break the ribs of an anesthetized patient in a fit of anger — the jury awarded her $3.7 million for lost wages, $39 million for mental anguish and $125 million in punitive damages.

Bohm said the case has since led him into other hospital whistleblower lawsuits. But his most recent client has nothing to do with health care. He is representing in rock drummer Glenn Symmonds in a harassment and retaliation suit filed in June against longtime friend and bandmate Eddie Money.

"Rock stars are not above the law," Bohm said.

— Dean Calbreath