ROCKVILLE, MD -- 02/29/08 --
A jury in the Circuit Court of Montgomery
County, Maryland yesterday rendered a verdict of $1 million in a re-trial
against Mile One - Herb Gordon - Tischer - Atlantic Automotive for having a
sexually hostile work environment in the case Sterling v. Atlantic
Automotive Corporation.
While working for Tischer Subaru as a service advisor from May 2001 to
March 2002, Gail Sterling was subjected to sexual harassment by her
supervisor, Jay Sponseller. Judge Nelson W. Rupp, Jr. presided over the
three-day trial. Mrs. Sterling was represented by R. Scott Oswald and Adam
Augustine Carter of The Employment Law Group in Washington, D.C. Atlantic
Automotive was represented by Craig Ballew and Tracey McLauchlin of the
Baltimore firm, Ferguson, Schetelich & Ballew, P.A.
In 2004, Mrs. Sterling won a jury verdict of $195,000 on this same claim
which was reduced to $100,000 by the original trial judge Michael Mason.
He also awarded an additional $350,500 in attorneys' fees and costs against
Atlantic Automotive, who appealed that verdict and won a retrial for a
single defective jury instruction.
"This verdict is a tremendous vindication of the abuse suffered by Gail
Sterling at the Mile One car dealership in Silver Spring. It sends a
strong message to employers that they can be held responsible for failing
to protect employees from ongoing harassment," said Mr. Carter. "The
jury's compensation took into consideration the emotional distress that
Gail Sterling suffered when her supervisor preyed upon her, and the failure
of her employer who kept the supervisor in a position to continue his
pattern of abuse even after she filed a complaint."
"We are so pleased for our client, and especially proud of the way she has
continued to fight all these years for a workplace that is free of
discrimination," said Mr. Oswald. "We are privileged to represent such a
courageous woman."
The Employment Law Group
The Employment Law Group specializes in representing employees in
whistleblower, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, and
wage and hour cases. For more information on The Employment Law Group,
please visit www.employmentlawgroup.net.
Media Contact:
Adam Carter
Phone: (202) 261 2803
