Vanessa Annaliza M. Manuel v. Heart to Heart Care Inc., Gentle Hands Inc., and Does 1 through 50, inclusive
Published: Jul. 11, 2015 | Result Date: Apr. 28, 2015 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: BC527985 Verdict – $299,000
Facts
Vanessa Manuel sued Heart to Heart Care Inc. and Gentle Hands Inc., in connection with an employment dispute. Defendant Heart to Heart was a hospice while Gentle Hands was a home health agency.
Contentions
PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff worked for defendants as a registered nurse. Plaintiff contended that she was defendants' employee. She alleged that she was fired for reporting that a social worker from Heart to Heart was unlicensed, violating state law. Plaintiff alleged that her firing was in retaliation for reporting the violation.
DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendants contended that plaintiff was not fired but rather quit. Defendants accused her of falsifying medical records.
Settlement Discussions
Manuel made a CCP 998 demand of $100,000, which defendants countered with a CCP 998 offer of $10,000 from Heart to Heart and $6,500 from Gentle Hands.
Result
The jury rendered a verdict in Manuel's favor, awarding her $299,000 in total damages, which included $100,000 in punitive damages from each defendant.
Other Information
FILING DATE: Nov. 18, 2013.
Length
eight days
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