Gurpreet Singh v. Southland Stone U.S.A. Inc., et al.
Apr 16, 2008OUTCOME: $992,650 Verdict
2008 Mealey's CA Jury Verdicts & Settlements 123 HEADLINE: California Jury Issues $992,650 Verdict In Case Where Employee Alleged He Was Verbally Abused Case Name: Gurpreet Singh v. Southland ... Stone U.S.A. Inc., et al. Case Number: BC350196 Court: Calif. Super., Los Angeles Co. Judge: Mary Thornton Verdict/Settlement (breakdown): $992,650 plaintiff verdict ($253,750 for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claim, $337,100 for the intentional misrepresentation claim, $45,000 for breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, $6,800 for nonpayment of wages and $350,000 in punitive damages) Plaintiff(s): Gurpreet Singh Defendant(s): Southland Stone U.S.A. Inc. Date: April 16, 2008 Claim: Breach of written contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, promissory fraud, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress and promissory estoppel Defense: Singh voluntarily resigned from the position; Singh was employed under an "at-will' agreement; there was ample cause shown by Singh's lack of performance and violations of company policies. Background: Gurpreet Singh worked for Southland Stone U.S.A. Inc. as a general manager.Singh said that before he was hired, he was a resident of New Delhi, India, and worked for a different company. Singh said he was approached by a Southland representative, who solicited him to join Southland. Singh said the representative promised that Southland would sponsor his and his family's immigration to the United States, would pay an annual salary of $120,000 and would provide health benefits and paid vacation time.However, Singh said, once he began to work for Southland, he was verbally abused. He said that four months after he began to work for the company, he received a 50 percent pay cut. Singh said he was not provided with any explanation for the pay cut. As a result of the sudden and unexpected pay cut, Singh said he had to move his wife and children back to India.Singh said that based on increasingly hostile circumstances that included verbal abuse, he was forced to resign.Singh filed an amended complaint against Southland on April 25, 2007, in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Other: The case went to a jury trial on Jan. 30, 2008, before Judge Mary Thornton.The jury found that Southland was exercising its legal rights but that its conduct was not lawful and consistent with community standards. The jury also found that Southland's conduct was outrageous and that it knowingly acted with disregard of the probability that Singh would suffer from emotional distress. The jury further found that Singh suffered from severe emotional distress and that Southland's conduct was a substantial factor in causing the emotional distress.Additionally, the jury found that Southland knowingly made false representations of an important fact to Singh and that it intended Singh to rely on the misrepresentation. The jury also found that Singh's reliance was a substantial factor on causing him harm.The jury also found in favor of Singh on the concealment claim. However, the jury found that Singh was not entitled to damages for this claim. The jury found in favor of Singh on the breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim. Plaintiff Attorneys: Okorie Okorocha and Krishna R. Malhotra, Malhotra & Malhotra, Los Angeles Defense Attorneys: Hitendra Bhakta, Law Offices of Norman A. Filer, Orange, Calif. Key Related Documents: Judgment on the verdict available. Document #99-080504-004R. Jury instructions available. Document #99-080504-005J. Defendant's statement of the case available. Document #99-080504-006B. Complaint available. Document #99-080504-007C.
