Jury Awards $ 2,323,505.48 To Former Employee In Her Tennessee State Action Alleging Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment And Sexual Discrimination
In March of 2015, Amber Rae Johnson was hired by Stones River Medical Group, P.C., after Dr. Mark Josovitz had allegedly asked Johnson to come work at Stones River as an assistant office manager. Johnson said that during her first month of employment as a front desk office worker, Josovitz pressured her into a sexual relationship. Johnson claimed that during her employment, Josovitz provided her with various medications but failed to keep appropriate records, threatened violence if she left the sexual relationship, and placed her on administrative leave when she first terminated the sexual relationship, only allowing her to return to her employment duties after she resumed the sexual relationship. Johnson said that she was terminated from her employment on June 15, 2015, after her final termination of the sexual relationship on June 10, 2015. Johnson allegedly suffered resultant severe mental injury, including significant weight loss followed by significant weight gain, panic attacks, paranoia, and depression.
On March 10, 2016, Johnson filed an action against Stones River and Josovitz in the Circuit Court for Rutherford County, Tennessee, alleging claims for quid pro quo sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, retaliatory discharge, intentional infliction of emotional distress, common law retaliatory discharge, and fraudulent misrepresentation.
Judge J. Mark Rogers presided over a jury trial. On Jan. 26, 2017, the jury rendered a verdict and awarded Johnson a total of $ 2,323,505.48. Against Stones River, the jury awarded $ 11,752.74 in back pay and benefits and $ 750,000 in compensatory damages for the quid pro quo sexual harassment and discrimination claim, $ 11,752.74 in back pay and benefits and $ 150,000 in compensatory damages for the retaliatory discharge under the Tennessee Public Protection Act claim, and $ 150,000 for damages for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim. Against Josovitz, the jury awarded $ 750,000 in damages and $ 500,000 in punitive damages for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.
Plaintiff was represented by Jason A. Lee of Burrow Lee, PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee. Defendant was represented by Daniel Warlick, Esq., also of Nashville, Tennessee.
Lexis Advance subscribers may view the complete summary here: Amber Rae Johnson v. Stones River Medical Group, P.C.; and Dr. Mark Josovitz; 2017 Jury Verdicts LEXIS 152.
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