Berta Sosa v. Comerica Bank, Comerica Management Company Inc.
Published: Dec. 15, 2023 | Result Date: Nov. 16, 2023 | Filing Date: Sep. 8, 2017 |Case number: BC675252 Verdict – $14,000,000
Judge
Court
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Carney R. Shegerian
(Shegerian & Associates Inc.)
John M. David
(Shegerian & Associates Inc.)
R. William Reed
(Shegerian & Associates Inc.)
Defendant
Tracey A. Kennedy
(Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP)
Facts
On July 5, 2017, plaintiff, Berta Sosa, 69, formerly a branch manager at Comerica Bank, was fired from her job when she took medical leave to care for her ill husband. Sosa sued defendants Comerica Bank and Comerica Management Company for various claims, including wrongful termination, gender discrimination and retaliation for having taken family leave. The jury not only found that she was fired because she took leave, but because her subordinate--Juan Cruz Muniz--who discriminated against not only Sosa, but at least five other female managers, filed a hotline complaint that led to her wrongful termination. Comerica's higher ups, including her direct supervisor -- Vice President Hoang Ngo -- were quick to take advantage of her vulnerable state, and fired Sosa based on provably false allegations of workplace violence. Berta Sosa, as well as half a dozen witnesses, vehemently disputed these allegations.
Specials in Evidence
Loe: $654,000 Future Loe: $515,000
Injuries
Due to Comerica Bank's gender discrimination, Sosa was fired from her job, causing her to suffer economic and non-economic damages.
Result
The jury found Sosa was discriminated against on the basis of her gender and retaliated against because she took time off work to care for her husband and awarded her damages of $14,169,000. Plaintiff(s) Berta Sosa • $654,000 past lost earnings • $515,000 future lost earnings • $12,000,000 past pain suffering • $1,000,000 future pain suffering Plaintiff Sosa's total award: $14,169,000
Deliberation
5.5 hours
Poll
unanimous
Length
23 days
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