You can go to our
Newsletters.
Or search for a word here:
UC LOSES - TWICE; KOTLA WINS - TWICE
Dee Kotla, a former computer technician at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, was awarded $2.1 million in damages. The jury found that she was wrongfully terminated by the Lab because she testified on behalf of a co-worker who alleged sexual harassment. In March of 2002, she was awarded $1 million in damages by a jury (see Spring 2002 Newsletter). UC appealed this decision, and the case went to court for a second time. Kotla was awarded $127,000 for lost wages and $2 million for pain and suffering.
In April, UC appealed this decision. The appeal was rejected in June.
In September, Kotla was awarded an additional $3.8 million to cover attorneys costs and fees due to her eight-year suit against the Lab.
The Lab, which is run by UC, is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to August 2005, the Department of Energy was responsible for the payment of legal fees and UC was responsible for payment of the jury award. This may no longer be the case (see UC Labs Lose Deep Pocket).
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle 3/24/05, Tri-Valley Herald 3/24/05, Daily Californian 3/28/05, Chronicle of Higher Education 4/8/05, The Recorder 4/2/05, Contra Costa Times 9/22/05
-wage@wage.org-