Facts

Alla Sazanova met Clifford Crane, owner of Security Marketing Concepts Inc. and Security Sales, on an Internet dating website. She flew to the U.S. from Ukraine on a work visa that Crane had obtained for her. She lived with Crane for a while until she moved into an apartment managed by KMA International Management Corporation, a company owned by Crane. She worked for the two companies as a marketer and a translator. She claimed that she and Crane had an on-again-off-again romantic relationship and was engaged to be married.

In early April 2009, the two went to San Diego where Sazanova allegedly refused to have sex with him. The following work day, Crane allegedly wrote Homeland Security indicating that her employment had been terminated and her work visa should be canceled. He allegedly broke off their engagement right before a supervisor fired her. Crane then informed her to move out of the apartment and her car, owned by Crane, was subsequently repossessed.

Sazanova sued Crane, Security Marketing, Apollo Security, and KMA for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, in the workplace, and sexual harassment by a property manager. She claimed that her termination, eviction, and car repossession were unjustified and entirely based on her refusal to have sex with Crane.

Crane responded that Sazanova's termination was justified because she spent unacceptable workday hours on the Internet and the company had suffered a downturn in operations that led to employee layoffs. His lawyers also claimed that Sazanova manipulated Crane as a means to come and live in the U.S.

Damages

Sazanova sought an unspecified amount for back pay, front pay, and past and future emotional distress. She also sought punitive damages.

Injuries

Sazanova claimed she suffered from an aggravation of a preexisting back condition, depressions, emotional distress, and insomnia. She claimed that Crane hired detectives to follow her, which caused her paranoia.

Result

The jury returned a verdict in favor of Sazanova for wrongful termination and sexual harassment in the workplace, but rejected the sexual harassment by a landlord claim. She was awarded $125,000 in damages, but no punitive damage was awarded.

Deliberation

two days

Poll

11-1 (wrongful termination), 11-1 (sexual harassment)

Length

three weeks