A recent judgment in the United States District Court in
Connecticut of over Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($502,402.05)
illustrates the difficulties involved in defending retaliation
claims. Summerlin v. Almost Family, Inc.,
3:12-cv-00007-WWE. The judgment included liquidated (double)
damages under the FMLA, interest, costs and attorneys'
fees.
BACKGROUND
Summerlin was a registered nurse. She received her nursing
degree in 1977 and had over thirty years of professional nursing
experience. Almost Family hired her in October of 2006 as a per
diem nurse. In 2009, she accepted a full-time position with Almost
Family as a registered nurse Behavioral Health Case Manager. She
was responsible for, among other things, coordinating client care,
completing documentation and recertifications, coordinating
admissions to home care services, discharges, and transfers. She
was assigned to manage clients located in Danbury, Brookfield, New
Fairfield and Newtown, Connecticut.
