Parkland Hospital Prevails in Employment Discrimination Lawsuit

Dallas — A Dallas County federal court jury on Thursday returned a take-nothing verdict in favor of the Dallas County Hospital District in a civil rights discrimination lawsuit filed by a long-time Parkland Hospital employee.

Sosamma Pailo, a native of India, had alleged that she had been repeatedly and unlawfully denied promotion to managerial-level positions during her 36-year tenure as a staff nurse at Parkland. In her lawsuit, filed in October of 2005, Ms. Pailo also charged that hospital administrators and co-workers discriminated against her based on her national origin and age, while creating a hostile work environment through continued harassment. She sought more than $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages against the hospital, in addition to attorney fees and other expenses.

After a four-day trial in the court of U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis, the jury found in favor of Parkland on all charges, and deemed the lawsuit to be frivolous and unreasonable. As a result of this finding the hospital may choose to file a motion to recover its attorney fees and expenses from the plaintiff.

“We’re pleased that the jury considered all of the evidence presented in the case and promptly found there was no basis to the allegations against the hospital,” said attorney E. Leon Carter of Dallas’ Munck Butrus Carter. “Parkland is sensitive to the diverse ethnic mix represented by its employees, physicians and patients, and carefully follows all applicable laws regarding employment practices.”

For more information on the decision please contact Mr. Carter at 972-628-3600 or Barry Pound at 214-559-4630.

Munck Butrus Carter, P.C. has carved out a practice devoted to trials, transactions and technology. With offices in Dallas and Marshall, Texas, the firm offers full-service counsel in the areas of commercial litigation, intellectual property management and protection, corporate transactions and securities and employment. Munck Butrus Carter represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 500TM companies.

Learn more about the firm at www.munckbutrus.com.