Former Miami News Anchor Wins Nearly $1M in Damages in Age Discrimination Case
A former news anchor for WSVN Channel 7 Miami (owned by Sunbeam Television) won a huge jury verdict earlier today. She was awarded nearly $750,000 in back pay, $97,000 in lost pension benefits, and $50,000 in punitive damages. The plaintiff is also entitled to attorneys' fees and costs, which will likely exceed several hundred thousand dollars. The case is Mitzell v. Sunbeam Television Corporation and was tried in the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court.
The defense was represented by Michael Casey, head of the Miami office of Epstein Becker & Green. Casey is a terrific employment lawyer so you can bet an appeal is being contemplated. (The plaintiff was apparently seeking $2M in back pay and $100,000 in punitives -- so the verdict was less than what she was seeking).
The Sun-Sentinel covers the story (but not the verdict) here. The plaintiff alleged that she was fired because the station wanted a younger anchor. A south Florida jury agreed.
Sarelson Law Firm was the lead counsel in the Eleventh Circuit's landmark age discrimination case Mora v. Jackson Memorial Foundation and has extensive experience representing older workers. (Ironically enough, Jackson Memorial was and is represented by Mr. Casey as well).