Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is pleased to announce that its defense victory in Blanco v. SHC has been recognized among Daily Journal’s Top Defense Verdicts of 2025, with Partners Alyson Cabrera and Michael Bruno serving as lead counsel, alongside Partner Sara Moore and Senior Counsel Liza Christie.
In a matter initially covered in a GRSM article, the firm represented a health care organization facing wrongful termination and retaliation claims brought by a former employee seeking $3.5 million in damages. After receiving the case, the jury deliberated for just 40 minutes before returning a unanimous defense verdict. Cabrera and Bruno demonstrated that the termination decision resulted from the plaintiff’s violation of policies designed to ensure quality patient care, not from the plaintiff’s complaints about unpaid COVID sick pay. GRSM successfully obtained dismissal of several other claims through strategic pretrial motions, thereby streamlining the claims and evidence for trial.
Cabrera credited the team’s success to its approach, noting the swift outcome reflected the team’s “emphasis on patient care, a clear factual presentation and timeline, and an organized and cohesive narrative focused on the precise and narrow legal question before the jury.” The verdict underscores the effectiveness of a comprehensive pretrial strategy paired with a focused trial presentation and highlights the strength of GRSM’s Employment practice in handling high-stakes trials.
Read the full Top Verdicts report on Daily Journal‘s website. Subscription may be required.
