Posted on October 2, 2007 by LaBovick Law

Isiah Thomas found guilty in Sexual Harassment case

It is bitter sweet to write about the recent jury verdict of  New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and the sexual harassment case involving former top team executive, Browne Sanders. The jury agreed with Ms. Sanders that Isiah Thomas and Madison Square Garden were guilty of Sexual Harassment charges.  I grew up as an avid Basketball fan, enjoying watching the likes of Isiah Thomas, Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Magic Johnson and Kevin Mchale.  I remember watching these great guys on the television play the greatest basketball. I recall even meeting some of them when they were here in Miami to play the Miami Heat.  You place them on such a pedestal and are crushed when they are accused of such things as the sexual harassment as Isiah Thomas has been found guilty of today by the New York Jury. It makes you realize that even great people can make mistakes and do things that they will come to regret.

The jury will now determine the punitive damages for Madison Square Garden.  They will determine how much money to award the Plaintiff, Browne Sanders.  The Plaintiff requested $10 million in punitive damages, while at MSG she was paid $260,000. Her claims of sexism, nepotism and crass language as the norm at MSG is despicable if this actually happened. At no time and under no circumstances is sexual harassment acceptable, even among jocks.

I am saddened that someone like Isiah Thomas would  be accused of such a crime. But if he is guilty, he is not above the law and should be punished accordingly.  That goes for MSG also. I do not necessarily agree with the legal counsel for Isiah Thomas when he said: "Punishment for the sake of punishment is not what this is all about".  The punishment for this and every other crime is about sending a message to the guilty party that is reasonable and just for the crime at hand. 

All eyes are on the New York Jury to see what they come back with for punitive damages for MSG. Stay tuned...

To read more on the case, click here for ABC News, Fox Sports,

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Posted on September 11, 2007 by LaBovick Law

Sprint-Nextel settles age bias suit for $57 million

Yesterday, Sprint-Nextel was able to breathe a sigh of relief, when U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum approved a $57 million settlement that resolved age discrimination claims against Sprint Nextel Corp. over the firing of nearly 1,700 former employees. 

The settlement ends a lawsuit that alleged Sprint had engaged in a pattern and practice of age discrimination by targeting for layoffs employees who were 40 years of age and older. The case was filed more than four years ago and attracted national attention because of its extensive computer-based document discovery. The AARP Foundation litigation group assisted the five law firms that represented the 1700 former employees.

According to Judge Lungstrum it was "remarkable” that in a case involving so many plaintiffs there were only two objections — both by former call center employees complaining not of the settlement but of the specific payments they are due to receive. And that no plaintiffs chose to opt out of the settlement.

The plaintiff settlements range from $4,226 for hourly call center employees to $35,738 for employees at the top of the settlement scale, according to court documents. The average settlement disbursement works out to about $20,330 per plaintiff who opted to be a part of the lawsuit.

The case focused on the Jack Welch “forced ranking,” employee-evaluation system. Other companies such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Ford Motor Co. and Capital One have been sued in recent years over such rankings.

This case sends a message to large employers such as Sprint that Age discrimination and flawed ranking systems will not be tolerated, otherwise, there will be stiff penalties to pay.  It is such a shame that a company with such a stellar reputation would engage in a practice like this.

Click here to read more about this case from the Kansas City Star.

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