October.28.2016
In an emphatic win for an Orrick trial team, a Los Angeles jury handed a complete defense verdict to client SpaceX in a sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation trial.
Led by partner Lynne Hermle, our team persuaded the jury to reject all claims raised by SpaceX welder Zhoei Teasley that she had been subjected to sexual harassment on the job in 2013 and retaliated against when she later complained to company supervisors. She also asserted gender and disability discrimination claims. The plaintiff had been seeking $8 million in damages from the jury.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal called the outcome “a total defense victory,” adding that the “verdict will only further the reputation of SpaceX attorney Lynne C. Hermle as arguably the most feared employment defense attorney in California.”
SpaceX, an aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, strongly denied the plaintiff’s allegations. In a statement after the verdict, a company spokesman said: “We are pleased that the jury reached the proper verdict.”
In addition to Lynne, the Orrick trial team includes partner Julia Riechert, with trial support from Mystic Rosa, Patrick Justesen, Stacy Kwon and Manu Salas.
