On October 23, 2010, a federal jury handed down a judgment of $10 million in punitive damages to settle a defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit, filed in 2007 against the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA), also resulted in a judgment for actual damages of $2.3 million.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the founder and former executive director of Corrections USA and two other plaintiffs. Corrections USA is a coalition of individual prison officers and prison officer unions in the US. CCPOA is a member of Corrections USA and was accused of organizational maneuvering for the purpose of firing the director because he was investigating improprieties in the coalition’s California bank account.
The complaint stated that the unjust firing and false remarks made to justify the firing breached a contract, damaged the plaintiff’s reputations, and devastated their livelihood.
No one likes to have something said about them that’s not true. Nearly everyone has had to deal with it at some time in their life. When something is said that is not only false but also causes harm to another, there are legal protections to help ensure that the party who caused the injury is held accountable. Having a skilled employment attorney from The Cochran Firm on your side will help ensure you get the settlement you deserve.
If you have been injured by a person or organization making false statements about you, please contact the employment lawyers at The Cochran Firm today to schedule your consultation.
