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NEW YORK, NY/LOS ANGELES, CA – Two companies have been ordered to pay a former collections specialist $5.9 million in compensatory and punitive damages after she prevailed at trial in her disability discrimination lawsuit.
At the end of a three-week trial, the jury on Thursday, April 21, 2022, found that World Oil Corp. and Asbury Environmental Services had discriminated against Margarita Ramirez, failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her disability, and failed to engage in the interactive process with Margarita Ramirez.
Margarita Ramirez’s career with World Oil Corp. and Asbury Environmental Services spanned over 16 years, dating back to 2001. Following a medical leave of absence for shoulder surgery, Ramirez was prevented from returning to work by Defendants. Ramirez was given no reason why she could not return to work. However, Defendants alleged that Ramirez’s post-surgery restrictions were too severe for her to perform her desk job duties as a collections specialist.
The jury overwhelmingly rejected Defendants’ arguments and found in Ramirez’s favor on all claims. The jury proceeded to award compensatory damages to Ramirez as follows: $137,795.00 in past economic damages, $196,919.00 in future economic damages, $1,300,000.00 in past non-economic damages, and $1,300,000.00 in future non-economic damages.
The jury also found by clear and convincing evidence that Defendants acted with malice, oppression, and fraud and awarded punitive damages against World Oil Corp. and Asbury Environmental Services in the amount of $1,500,000 from each entity.
The lawsuit had been filed by the Law Offices of Eric A. Boyajian and tried by Shegerian and Associates on behalf of Ramirez in Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. 20STCV22351).
About Shegerian & Associates:
Shegerian & Associates has won clients over half a billion in employment-based disputes and maintains a 98% success rate. We have offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside and New York.
Media Contact:
Rosanna Vargas
rvargas@shegerianlaw.com
