LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Carney R. Shegerian, founder of Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based law firm specializing in employee rights, has issued a statement aimed at all employees and employers in light of current news coverage surrounding a US Government Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sex discrimination case suit that yielded a $500,000 award for a Georgia based woman this week.
The woman, Contrice Travis, will receive $500,000 from Exel, Inc., a warehouse and distribution company that failed to promote her to a supervisory position. The case, filed by the EEOC, claimed that Exel violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. At the trial, the EEOC presented evidence that male employees were routinely promoted after verbally requesting consideration for open positions, while Travis, who the EEOC said was indisputably recognized as the most knowledgeable in inventory control, was denied the inventory supervisor position recently vacated by her supervisor. Travis's former supervisor testified that when he recommended Travis for the position, the general manager informed him that he would never put a woman in that position.
The jury awarded Travis $25,000 in compensatory damages and $475,000 in punitive damages. The court will also award back pay to Travis.
Shegerian warns that sex discrimination in the workplace is more common than many realize and can and should lead to litigious scenarios potentially devastating to the employer.
“We applaud the EEOC’s efforts in this matter,” said Shegerian. “Sex discrimination has long been a problem in the US workplace and while there are some indications of improvement, there are countless unreported cases. What these victimized women and their employers need to know is that businesses in the US cannot discriminate against their employees based upon gender – ever! To do so is illegal, and could lead to dramatic fiscal consequences for the organizations that house the discriminatory behavior. Hopefully high profile cases such as this will draw attention to this prevalent problem and more women who have been discriminated against in their places of work will pursue justice.”
An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won over 65 jury trials, including 25 seven figure verdicts representing employees.
Located Santa Monica, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Richly experienced in labor and employment law and possessing an unparalleled success record as litigators (Carney Shegerian himself has won over 65 jury trials in his career, including 25 seven figure verdicts, and he remains undefeated in federal jury trials), Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information about the firm, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com, or to learn more about Carney Shegerian specifically, visit http://carneyshegerian.com/