Mississippi Litigation Review & Commentary : Mississippi Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Phillip W. Thomas Law Firm : MS Litigation Review & Commentary

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On August 12, 2011 a federal court jury in the Northern District rendered a $578,500 verdict against Boyd Tunica, Inc. d/b/a Sam's Town Hotel & Gaming Hall in an employment discrimination case. Here is the Jury's verdict. Here is a Clarion-Ledger article on the verdict.

The jury awarded the following damages:

• $102,000: back pay
• $76,500: mental anxiety
• $400,000: punitive damages.

The plaintiff Marc Silverberg alleged that he was discriminated against because he is Jewish. Here is the Complaint.Here is plaintiff's brief opposing summary judgment.

Jim Waide of Tupelo represented the plaintiff. Gary Friedman and La Toya Merrit with Phelps Dunbar in Jackson represented the defendant. Judge Allen Pepper Jr. was the trial judge.

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On the heels of Saturday's lackluster loss to Alcorn State in football Jackson State suffered another defeat today when a federal court jury in Jackson awarded LaVerne Gentry $100,000 in her lawsuit against J.S.U. for discrimination and retaliation. Here is the Clarion-Ledger's article. Here is the Ledger's article from last week when the trial started, which described the plaintiff's allegations:

The lawsuit alleges that in or about March 2006 she was denied a raise because of her gender.

"After speaking out about matters of public concern, Dr. LaVerne Gentry was removed from tenure track," according to her lawsuit.

Attorney Lisa Ross (right) talks about the suit filed by her client LaVerne Gentry (left) stemming from Gentry's claim she was denied tenure and a related salary increase at Jackson State University because of her gender. (Brian Albert Broom/The Clarion-Ledger)

 

The jury found for Ms. Gentry on her retaliation claim and for J.S.U. on the discrimination case.

Plaintiff's counsel was Lisa Ross of Jackson. Defense counsel were Gary Friedman and Latoya Merritt with Phelps Dunbar in Jackson.

Ross asked for $100,000 in closing and will be able to file a motion to recover attorney's fees.