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University of California

Conney v. University of California (Sexual Harassment and Retaliation)

Date: 07/24/2004 (Date of Verdict)

Misconduct Type: Labor

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $4,070,000

Disposition: Judgment Against Defendant

Synopsis: Dr. Janet Conney, a former assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and Hospital, sued the Regents of the University of California and UCLA for sexual harassment and retaliation for complaining about discriminatory treatment and pay inequity. Conney claimed that beginning in 2001, three of her male colleagues, including one of her supervisors, created a hostile work environment for her that continued until her employment at the UCLA hospital ended in July 2002. In July 2004, a California state jury awarded Conney a total of $2.95 million in damages, finding that UCLA discriminated against Conney on the basis of her sex and retaliated against her after she protested the treatment she received. The judge also awarded $515,450 in attorney's fees. With interest and appellate attorney’s fees, the total award ultimately topped $4 million.