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HOSPITAL WORKER, 45, WINS $168M AFTER SHE WAS FIRED FOR COMPLAINING THAT CO-WORKERS SLAPPED HER BEHIND
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:30 PM on 2nd March 2012
Colleagues pulled her on to their laps and one told her: 'You're
going to give in to me'
A hospital worker has won $168million in a sexual harassment suit -
believed to be the largest ever sum awarded to a single employee.
A court awarded the staggering payout to Ani Chopourian after
co-workers allegedly repeatedly slapped her behind and pulled her
into their laps.
When she complained to the human resources department at Mercy General
Hospital in Sacramento, California, she was promptly fired.
Scroll down for video
'Vindicated': Ani Chopourian worked as a surgical physicians assistant
for two years. She claims she was fired after she complained of
sexual harassment
A federal court jury found the hospital and its owner, Catholic
Healthcare West, liable for $125million in damages.
They also added $42.7million in compensation for lost wages and mental
anguish suffered by the 45-year-old surgical physicians assistant.
'I'm a humble person,' an emotional Chopourian told ABC News 10. 'I
just wanted to take care of patients. I loved my job.'
The unwanted sexual advances, touching and innuendos between physicians
and staff occurred between 2006 and 2008, she said.
But when co-workers began 'slapping [her] on the backside, grabbing
[her] waist, pulling [her] into their laps' her complaints fell on
deaf ears.
'One harasser would tell me, "you're going to give into me" and I
would say, "I'm never going to give into you",' she said.
Denial: Mercy Hospital claims she was fired for failing to turn up
for work
When Chopourian told supervisors, who often witnessed the abuse,
'they would laugh,' she added to ABC News 10.
The Yale graduate documented the alleged abuse and mailed it to the
HR department but was fired a week later.
'One harasser would tell me, "you're going to give into me" and I
would say, "I'm never going to give into you". My supervisors would
just laugh'
Ani Chopourian
In her lawsuit, she claimed she had been let go for her whistleblowing,
but the hospital argued it was a result of misconduct.
It said she was fired for failing to report for work one Sunday, but
Chopourian said she was on call but never notified she was needed at
the hospital.
The federal court jury agreed she had been unfairly dismissed.
While she feels 'humbled and vindicated' by the payout, she said her
ability to trust has been shattered.
'What happened will forever be a part of me,' Chopourian said.
Speaking to KCRA.com, lawyer Lawrance Bohm welcomed the payout.
Hurt: Chopourian said she finds it hard to trust people after the
incidents
Sum: Documents seen by ABC News 10 show the staggering payout
'It's a historic verdict and I'm sure the repercussions of it will
be felt far and wife throughout labour organisations,' he said.
Mercy General President Denny Powell said in a statement they would
appeal the decision.
'We are disappointed by the jury's decision,' he said. '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.'
Bohm added: 'It's very disappointing that they want to appeal after
so much evidence and after so many witnesses came forward so bravely.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108957/Physicians-assistant-Ani-Chopourian-wins-168-MILLION-sexual-harassment-suit-Mercy-Hospital.html#ixzz1nyEpupBQ
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:30 PM on 2nd March 2012
Colleagues pulled her on to their laps and one told her: 'You're
going to give in to me'
A hospital worker has won $168million in a sexual harassment suit -
believed to be the largest ever sum awarded to a single employee.
A court awarded the staggering payout to Ani Chopourian after
co-workers allegedly repeatedly slapped her behind and pulled her
into their laps.
When she complained to the human resources department at Mercy General
Hospital in Sacramento, California, she was promptly fired.
Scroll down for video
'Vindicated': Ani Chopourian worked as a surgical physicians assistant
for two years. She claims she was fired after she complained of
sexual harassment
A federal court jury found the hospital and its owner, Catholic
Healthcare West, liable for $125million in damages.
They also added $42.7million in compensation for lost wages and mental
anguish suffered by the 45-year-old surgical physicians assistant.
'I'm a humble person,' an emotional Chopourian told ABC News 10. 'I
just wanted to take care of patients. I loved my job.'
The unwanted sexual advances, touching and innuendos between physicians
and staff occurred between 2006 and 2008, she said.
But when co-workers began 'slapping [her] on the backside, grabbing
[her] waist, pulling [her] into their laps' her complaints fell on
deaf ears.
'One harasser would tell me, "you're going to give into me" and I
would say, "I'm never going to give into you",' she said.
Denial: Mercy Hospital claims she was fired for failing to turn up
for work
When Chopourian told supervisors, who often witnessed the abuse,
'they would laugh,' she added to ABC News 10.
The Yale graduate documented the alleged abuse and mailed it to the
HR department but was fired a week later.
'One harasser would tell me, "you're going to give into me" and I
would say, "I'm never going to give into you". My supervisors would
just laugh'
Ani Chopourian
In her lawsuit, she claimed she had been let go for her whistleblowing,
but the hospital argued it was a result of misconduct.
It said she was fired for failing to report for work one Sunday, but
Chopourian said she was on call but never notified she was needed at
the hospital.
The federal court jury agreed she had been unfairly dismissed.
While she feels 'humbled and vindicated' by the payout, she said her
ability to trust has been shattered.
'What happened will forever be a part of me,' Chopourian said.
Speaking to KCRA.com, lawyer Lawrance Bohm welcomed the payout.
Hurt: Chopourian said she finds it hard to trust people after the
incidents
Sum: Documents seen by ABC News 10 show the staggering payout
'It's a historic verdict and I'm sure the repercussions of it will
be felt far and wife throughout labour organisations,' he said.
Mercy General President Denny Powell said in a statement they would
appeal the decision.
'We are disappointed by the jury's decision,' he said. '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.'
Bohm added: 'It's very disappointing that they want to appeal after
so much evidence and after so many witnesses came forward so bravely.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108957/Physicians-assistant-Ani-Chopourian-wins-168-MILLION-sexual-harassment-suit-Mercy-Hospital.html#ixzz1nyEpupBQ