CDF LLP Obtains Jury Verdict for Insurance Company Employer After Lengthy Trial in Sacramento
In January 2006, Sacramento partners Mark S. Spring and Vanessa W. Whang commenced a jury trial in Sacramento Superior Court. The complaint in the case was filed by a former employee of an insurance company.
The plaintiff alleged claims for wrongful termination, breach of contract, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress in his complaint. Prior to trial, on summary judgment, we successfully removed all of the claims from the lawsuit other than the defamation claims. The trial involved over fifteen different statements allegedly made by management and human resources personnel that the plaintiff claimed were defamatory. Due to the nature of the claims, the amount of documents and e-mails, the number of witnesses and other issues, the trial lasted for months. In mid-May, the jury came back with its verdict, finding for the insurance company and awarding nothing to the plaintiff. At the conclusion of the trial, Mr. Spring was quoted: “It was a long and grueling battle but we are pleased that justice was done and that we are able to provide this result for our client.”
The Sacramento office is now in the process of attempting to collect the costs incurred on behalf of the client.