Graybill & Hazlewood Obtains Favorable Settlement in Title Vii Retaliation Case — Sept. 2016

After nearly 4 years of litigation, Donald Peterson and Sean McGivern helped their client reach a favorable settlement in a federal court lawsuit alleging claims of Title VII retaliation and a tortious interference with employment contract. Our client, who managed a medical facility, had pushed to enforce the sexual harassment policy after nurses had complained about the behavior of certain doctors. Our client contended the doctors retaliated against her, interfering with her employment with the facility and, ultimately, forcing her to resign rather than be fired. After extensive discovery, the defendant facility and doctors filed motions for summary judgment, arguing that our client had insufficient evidence to justify a trial. Judge Vratil of the Federal District Court for the District of Kansas largely denied these motions, allowing the case to proceed toward trial. It was in the face of this potential trial that the defendants decided to resolve the case by way of settlement.