Facts

Plaintiff Warren Snider worked as an associate for the law firm of Laquer, Urban, Clifford & Hodge LLP for 12 years beginning in 1991. The law firm specializes in representing trust funds and pension plans. In May 2003, the plaintiff told his employer that he was going to begin treatment for hepatitis, a disease he had for more than 30 years. During his treatment, the plaintiff continued to work at the same capacity as he had the prior year. He took no sick days during his treatment but took nine vacation days. In late September 2003, the plaintiff left work for four days to move his son into an apartment at college in Davis, Calif. but the plaintiff failed to tell any of his supervisors that he would be gone, in violation of written firm policy. When the plaintiff returned, he refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing and was insubordinate to the managing partner, and he was terminated.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiff contended that his employment was terminated because he was disabled, that the defendants failed to reasonably accommodate his disability, failed to enter into a good faith process to determine reasonable accommodations and retaliated against him for requesting a reasonable accommodation for his disability.

DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
The defendant contended that the plaintiff was terminated because he violated a vacation policy and that he was insubordinate when confronted with the violation.

Result

Verdict for plaintiff for wrongful termination and disability discrimination in violation of FEHA; and failure to accommodate a known physical disability in violation of FEHA. The jury returned a verdict in plaintiff's favor and awarded compensatory damages of approximately $1.1 million. A verdict was returned in favor of individual defendant, Christopher Laquer. A verdict was returned in favor of Laquer, Urban, Clifford & Hodge LLP on failure to engage in interactive process and retaliation.

Other Information

The plaintiff will make a motion for attorney's fees and costs under FEHA. The mediation was held before Michael Marcus (party-pay panel). The defendants intend to file a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and for a new trial.

Deliberation

16 hours

Poll

9-3 (wrongful termination and failure to accommodate claims)

Length

14 days