Shegerian & Associates Helps Price is Right Model Win $8.5 Million Discrimination Jury Verdict

LOS ANGELES --(Business Wire)--

Shegerian & Associates, Inc., a Santa Monica-based litigation law firm specializing on employee rights, obtained a discrimination jury verdict last week for $8,546,384 in favor of its client, Brandi Cochran, in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Cochran had worked as a model on The Price is Right for almost eight years. Shortly after attempting to return from her pregnancy leave in January 2009, Cochran was fired from the show. She subsequently filed claims for pregnancy and disability discrimination, in addition to wrongful termination, through attorney and Shegerian & Associates founder Carney Shegerian and his co-counsel James Urbanic.

The jury found in Cochran's favor for pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination, awarding her $776,944 in compensatory damages and $7,769,440 in punitive damages.

"It's an honor to have had the opportunity to represent Ms. Cochran," said Shegerian. "She is an excellent example of a segment of our employee population in the US that has historically been wrongfully discriminated against. Hopefully this verdict and the justice served in Ms. Cochran's case will put employers in the US on notice that they cannot discriminate against their pregnant employees or employees who contemplate starting or expanding their fmilies. By the letter of the law, pregnant employees need to be welcomed back to their previous position when they return to work after their pregnancy or family leave."

During the trial, Cochran, recognized by her colleagues and producers as a professional and dedicated model, testified that The Price is Right and FremantleMedia North America treated her differently and terminated her employment because of the stigma related to pregnant models. She also testified that despite being able to perform her job duties, the defendants manufactured reasons to justify not rehiring her.

"I'm so grateful to have had Carney Shegerian try my case," said Cochran. "He not only understood my case immediately but he believed in me from day one. There are laws in place to protect not only pregnant women on the job but women who try to return to work after complicated pregnancies. I would not have lost my job if it wasn't for my pregnancy and the tragic complications that came with it. Carney has a keen knowledge of discrimination in the work place and how it can affect a person's dignity and self worth. I have so much respect for what he stands for and can't thank him enough for standing by me in this cause for women."

An experienced trial attorney, Shegerian has tried many jury trials to verdict in both state and federal court, representing individuals that have suffered financial or emotional losses and have been wronged by employers, including major corporations. Shegerian has built a remarkable career on helping those who have been wronged in the workplace. He remains undefeated in federal jury trials and has won over 60 jury trials, including 23 seven figure verdicts representing employees.

Located Santa Monica, Shegerian & Associates is a law firm specializing in protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged by their employers. Richly experienced in labor and employment law and possessing an unparalleled success record as litigators (Carney Shegerian himself has won over 60 jury trials in his career, including 23 seven figure verdicts, and he remains undefeated in federal jury trials), Shegerian & Associates is passionately dedicated to serving the needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.ShegerianLaw.com.