Facts

Since Aug. 8, 2001, Asian Rehabilitation Services employed plaintiff Irvin Caesar as a project manager, supervising 20 employees working at the federal courthouse as janitors. He had been given Manager of the Year award at the 2001 Christmas party. On May 22, 2002, the plaintiff was terminated.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiff contended that his termination was in violation of public policy. He alleged that he suffered loss of earnings and emotional distress as a result of said termination. The plaintiff also contended that he discovered certain of his employees were not paid the appropriate wage rate, and that when he brought this to management's attention, they fired him for whistleblowing.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The defendant contended that plaintiff was terminated for various performance issues, and denied that plaintiff protested any non-payment of required wages to employees. The defendant denied the plaintiff suffered any damages as a result of being terminated.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiff's pretrial demand was $500,000. The defendant made a C.C.P. Section 998 demand for $175,000. The defendant increased its offer to $200,000 after jury indicated a 7-5 deadlock in favor of plaintiff. The plaintiff reduced his demand to $450,000.

Specials in Evidence

$750,000

Damages

Loss of earnings, emotional distress and punitive damages.

Result

Defense verdict.

Other Information

Mediation with Judge Alexander Williams III did not resolve the case due to high settlement demand. FILING DATE: May 1, 2003.

Deliberation

three days

Poll

10-2 (defense on liability)

Length

15 days