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Employment Law
Wrongful Termination
Retaliation

Luo Yu Jie and Fu E. Min v. Liang Tai Knitwear Co., Ltd. and Hong Yuan Industries, Co. Ltd.

Published: Aug. 7, 1999 | Result Date: Jun. 17, 1999 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: BC179243 Verdict –  $478,000

Judge

Harold I. Cherness

Court

L.A. Superior Central West


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Charles Ted Mathews
(Mathews Law Group)


Defendant

Esteban G. Gallegos

Gary A. Nye


Experts

Plaintiff

Theodore Vavoulis
(technical)

Defendant

Scott Mowrey
(technical)

Facts

Both plaintiffs, husband and wife, both garment industry workers worked for corporate defendants until they were terminated on Aug. 11, 1997 in an alleged lay off. The plaintiffs had reported defendants to the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service for employing illegal aliens a few months before they were terminated. Immigration and Naturalization Service raided the factory and arrested 36 illegal aliens. The plaintiffs were then laid off. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendants based on wrongful termination in breach of public policy. According to the plaintiffs, the defendants wrote plaintiffs a letter telling them they were being laid off due to a slow down in business. They were the only two employees who were laid off. At trial, the defendants conceded there was no slow down in business, but insisted that plaintiffs resigned.

Settlement Discussions

The plaintiffs demanded $200,000. The defendant did not make any offer.

Other Information

The defendants filed a motion for appeal.

Deliberation

3½ hours

Poll

12-0 (Liang), 11-1 (Hong)

Length

six days


#86748

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