Matthew Luber, Armen McOmber, and Meghan Pazmino secured a judgment of more than $7 million for plaintiffs in a sexual harassment case brought in Camden County against Corporate Defendant Signature Smile Dental Practice and Scott and Annika Bruggeworth (among others). Camden County Superior Court Judge Michael Kassel awarded $3.1 million in compensatory damages, $3.1 million in punitive damages, as well as fees and costs in excess of $970,000.
The case was originally brought in 2015. The Third Amended Complaint, filed in June 2020, alleges that the Plaintiffs Ms. Zisa, Ms. Gonzalez, Ms. Costello, Ms. Bennett, Ms. Suarez, Ms. Oyola, Ms. Goldbeck, and Ms. Gatensas were subjected to “unwelcome sexual advances and flirting grotesque and crude sexual comments, and unwanted touching and groping.” The Complaint further alleges that the Plaintiffs were expected to tolerate sexual advances and lewd behavior as a condition of their employment, while female employees who rejected the advances were treated unfairly and even punitively.
“We are proud of our clients for never backing down in what turned out to be protracted litigation. They got their day in court and justice was served. The Judge’s award in this matter was more than appropriate and serves as a reminder that New Jersey employees need to tolerate severe or pervasive sexual harassment.” Matthew A. Luber, Esq., Managing Partner.
