Hologram CEO must pay $8M to harassed employee

Hologram CEO Alki David and his business entities must pay $8.1 million in actual damages to a former employee suing him for sexual harassment, a jury ordered Tuesday.

The jury of nine men and three women found that plaintiff Mahim Khan had been subjected to battery and harmful, harassing or offensive conduct while employed at Hologram USA, and found David's behavior was so severe that it created a hostile work environment. David's conduct was additionally violative because he was a supervisor to Khan, the jury ruled.

David was made to pay $3 million for past non-economic damages, $5 million for future non-economic losses, $40,000 for lost earnings and $80,000 for future economic losses.

The trial continues Wednesday to determine potential punitive damages. But as he remains barred from self-representation, it's not clear whether David will be able to mount a defense.

Ellyn C. Garofalo, a former counsel for David who has repeatedly declined to re-represent him despite her continued involvement in the case as an attorney for his business entities, indicated Tuesday that she would not be present for the punitive phase of trial. Mahim Khan v. Hologram USA Inc. BC654017 (L.A. Super. Ct, filed Sept. 8 2018).

The plaintiff's counsel, Nathan J. Goldberg of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg LLP, declined comment.

-- Steven Crighton