Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Livingston Partners Elizabeth F. Lorell and Maxine J. Nicholas, along with Associate David P. Cerqueira, successfully obtained a complete defense verdict after a five-day jury trial in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County.
GRSM represented a medical practice, along with its three partner-doctors. The plaintiff, a former office manager, asserted claims for retaliation under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act, as well as hostile work environment, age discrimination, and aiding and abetting under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The plaintiff also asserted a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiff sought a host of damages, including, but not limited to, back pay, front pay, emotional distress, punitive damages, negative tax consequences, counsel fees, and costs. The practice and doctors vigorously denied the allegations and asserted, among other defenses, that the former employee quit and that her claims were entirely fabricated.
Throughout the trial, the GRSM team was successful in a host of evidential rulings and presented a carefully organized, detail-oriented, and evidence-driven defense, emphasizing the absence of actionable discriminatory and retaliatory conduct necessary to support the plaintiff’s claims. Through disciplined witness examinations, strategic use of documentary evidence, and targeted expert testimony, the defense effectively challenged the credibility of the plaintiff’s witnesses and the scope of the damages sought.
Following closing arguments and jury deliberations, the jury rendered a complete defense verdict on all counts of the complaint. This result further highlights the relentless strength of GRSM’s trial-ready Employment practice, its experience in defending complex employment matters, and its commitment to achieving decisive results for clients through meticulous preparation and effective courtroom advocacy.