[nfbmi-talk] another loss for king and grossi

[joe harcz Comcast]

Here is another discrimination case lost by King and Ggrossi in the Michigan Attorney General’s office.

These were the same attorney’s who stalled an equitable settlement in the Robin Hill v. MCB case. And, of course King was also the lead defense attorney in the Chris Boone case and continues to work on the appeal on the Dave Robinson case.

 

Of course, by now we’ve seen just how much it has cost the Michigan Commission for the Blind for these legal services and settlements. And of course the burden has been shifted as always to place that burden on the backs of blind citizens and the average taxpayer.

This madness will never end until there is accountability for the leadership of MCB.

 

Joe

 

 

Link:

-probation officer claims court wrongfully discharged her

 

Judge denies using moral fitness code, says plaintiff was an at-will employee

POSTED: 08:15 AM Friday, August 12, 2011

BY:

Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff

TAGS:

Calvas v. 19th District Court et al.,

Chief Judge Mark Somers,

Christina M. Grossi,

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act retaliation claim,

James K. Fett,

Jeanne Stempien,

Michael O. King,

Simone Calvas 19th District Court,

Wayne County Circuit Court

 

In a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, plaintiff Simone Calvas sought economic and non-economic damages from defendants 19th District Court and

Chief Judge Mark Somers on claims of wrongful termination based on employment policy and Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act retaliation claim.

 

Calvas was a probation officer at 19th District Court in Dearborn, which was operated by Somers. She was fired in September 2007, and said she did not receive

warning or explanation from Somers.

 

Plaintiff asserted violation of civil rights and defendants’ just-cause policy because she was terminated without notice.

 

It also was contended that defendants retaliated against her after plaintiff retained counsel (prior to her termination), who sent letters to Somers accu­sing

him of discrimination and harassment, and demanding Somers to cease such conduct.

 

Plaintiff further argued that Somers applied his own moral litmus test to employees, and did not approve of her becoming pregnant by another man while she

was divorcing her husband. It also was asserted that plaintiff associated with other employees who objected to Somers’ Christian preaching from the bench.

 

Defendants contended that plaintiff was an at-will employee, and that no warning was needed prior to termination. It also was asserted that job performance

issues were the basis for plaintiff’s termination, and that Somers denied applying any moral fitness code.

 

The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $463,820 for wrongful discharge only, saying that the court obligated itself to fire for just cause only by

adopting the city policies, and that it did not have just cause to fire plaintiff.

 

Type of action: Wrongful termination based on employment policy, Elliott-Larsen retaliation claim

 

Type of injuries: Lost wages and benefits, emotional distress

 

Name of case: Calvas v. 19th District Court, et al.

 

Court/Case no./Date: Wayne County Circuit Court; 09-004942-CD; June 3, 2011

 

Tried before: Jury

 

Name of judge: Jeanne Stempien

 

Demand: $500,000

 

Verdict amount: $463,820

 

Attorney for plaintiff: James K. Fett

 

Attorneys for defendant: Michael O. King, Christina M. Grossi

[Pr

 

 

-probation officer claims court wrongfully discharged her

 

Judge denies using moral fitness code, says plaintiff was an at-will employee

POSTED: 08:15 AM Friday, August 12, 2011

BY:

Michigan Lawyers Weekly Staff

TAGS:

Calvas v. 19th District Court et al.,

Chief Judge Mark Somers,

Christina M. Grossi,

Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act retaliation claim,

James K. Fett,

Jeanne Stempien,

Michael O. King,

Simone Calvas 19th District Court,

Wayne County Circuit Court

 

In a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, plaintiff Simone Calvas sought economic and non-economic damages from defendants 19th District Court and

Chief Judge Mark Somers on claims of wrongful termination based on employment policy and Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act retaliation claim.

 

Calvas was a probation officer at 19th District Court in Dearborn, which was operated by Somers. She was fired in September 2007, and said she did not receive

warning or explanation from Somers.

 

Plaintiff asserted violation of civil rights and defendants’ just-cause policy because she was terminated without notice.

 

It also was contended that defendants retaliated against her after plaintiff retained counsel (prior to her termination), who sent letters to Somers accu­sing

him of discrimination and harassment, and demanding Somers to cease such conduct.

 

Plaintiff further argued that Somers applied his own moral litmus test to employees, and did not approve of her becoming pregnant by another man while she

was divorcing her husband. It also was asserted that plaintiff associated with other employees who objected to Somers’ Christian preaching from the bench.

 

Defendants contended that plaintiff was an at-will employee, and that no warning was needed prior to termination. It also was asserted that job performance

issues were the basis for plaintiff’s termination, and that Somers denied applying any moral fitness code.

 

The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded $463,820 for wrongful discharge only, saying that the court obligated itself to fire for just cause only by

adopting the city policies, and that it did not have just cause to fire plaintiff.

 

Type of action: Wrongful termination based on employment policy, Elliott-Larsen retaliation claim

 

Type of injuries: Lost wages and benefits, emotional distress

 

Name of case: Calvas v. 19th District Court, et al.

 

Court/Case no./Date: Wayne County Circuit Court; 09-004942-CD; June 3, 2011

 

Tried before: Jury

 

Name of judge: Jeanne Stempien

 

Demand: $500,000

 

Verdict amount: $463,820

 

Attorney for plaintiff: James K. Fett

 

Attorneys for defendant: Michael O. King, Christina M. Grossi

[Pr