Woman Awarded $168 Million From Hospital in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
A California woman has been awarded $168 million in damages after winning her sexual harassment claim against her former employer.
Jurors found that Ani Chopourian, who worked for as a cardiac surgeon's assistant at the Mercy Hospital in Sacramento, was in fact the victim of sexual harassment and awarded her with the substantial amount which is said to be the largest ever given to a single employee, according to ABC News 10.
The 45-year-old Yale graduate, who worked for the same employer for two years, argued that when she sought help from the hospital's Human Resources department she was mocked and that the matter was not taken seriously.
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"I was slapped on the backside and grabbed repeatedly, sometimes in front of supervisors, when I said do something, they would laugh," Chopourian told ABC.
"One harasser would tell me, 'you're going to give into me' and I would say, 'I'm never going to give into you.' What happened will forever be a part of me," she said.
In a surprising turn of events, Chopourian was fired after making a more formal complaint to HR and was relieved that the federal court jury ruled in her favor.
Although Chopourian said that the harassment has left her unable to trust people, the court's ruling left her feeling "humbled and vindicated" and her attorney, Lawrance Bohm, praised the payout which he says sends the right message about sexual harassment within the workplace.
"It's a historic verdict and I'm sure the repercussions of it will be felt far and wife throughout labor organizations," Bohm told KCRA.com.
A hospital spokesman insists that Chopourian was dealt with appropriately and that they will appeal the court's decision.
"We are disappointed by the jury's decision. We are committed to providing a safe working environment, free from sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. We stand by the actions we took in ending our relationship with this former employee and we will appeal this decision," Mercy General President, Denny Powell, said in a statement.
