Zurich awarded $80 million jury verdict in employee “time theft” lawsuit – law firm | Insurance business America
The plaintiffs argued that fired employees were on “unofficial” leave that was approved by their boss
Insurance News
By Jen Frost
A California jury has awarded more than $80 million to former Zurich American Insurance Company employees who were terminated after taking untracked vacation days approved by their boss.
According to their legal representatives, the verdict includes $25 million in punitive damages for each of the three fired workers’ compensation specialists. They also received awards for reputational damage, economic damage and non-economic damage.
The trio, named Daniel Koos, Nicholas Lardie and Melinda Brantley, were fired in December 2017 before an internal investigation by Zurich into their “off the record” paid leave (PTO) was completed, according to their legal representatives at Bohm Law Group.
The vacation days were known as “Omen Days,” named after the employees’ supervisor, Christopher Omen, who is said to have approved the requests.
“The employees were each fired for allegedly taking unauthorized vacation, but in reality the days were fully sanctioned and in accordance with company policy,” a Bohm spokesperson said by email.
Zurich was not immediately available for comment.
What were the former Zurich employees awarded in the massive jury verdict?
According to Bohm Law Group, the jury awarded the former Zurich Insurance employees the following:
Melinda Brantley v. Zurich American Insurance Company
Total Judgment: $27,886,374.00
- Economic damages: $2,286,374.00
- Non-economic damages: $300,000.00
- Reputational Damage: $300,000.00
- Punitive damages: $25,000,000.00
Nicholas Lardie v. Zurich American Insurance Company
Total Verdict: $26,156,326
- Economic damages: $456,326.00
- Non-economic damages: $400,000.00
- Reputational Damage: $300,000.00
- Punitive damages: $25,000,000.00
Daniel Koos v. Zurich American Insurance Company
Total Verdict: $26,209,712
- Economic damages: $609,712.00
- Non-economic damages: $300,000.00
- Reputational Damage: $300,000.00
- Punitive damages: $25,000,000.00
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2024-04-19 21:17:25
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