Anthony Coppola, M.D. et al. vs California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Case Background

On April 07, 2017, Dr. Anthony Coppola filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against his employer California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation alleging retaliation and harassment for taking medical leave. The case was filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court, California. Judge George Abdullah, Jr. presided over the case. [Case number: STK-CV-UOE-2017-004267]

Cause

Dr. Anthony Coppola served the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for over 20 years, from 1998 to 2019. He worked as chief psychiatrist at Deuel Vocational Institute (DVI), where performance reviews highlighted his exemplary service.

DVI, a former correctional facility, closed on September 30, 2021. It functioned as a Reception Center for newly convicted inmates, who typically stayed for 60 to 100 days.

Dr. Coppola joined CDCR in 1996 after completing a fellowship in forensic psychiatry. He initially worked at the California Institute for Men before briefly transferring to Patton State Hospital. In 1998, he returned to CDCR as chief psychiatrist at DVI. Over the years, he held various positions, including Senior Psychiatrist Supervisor and Chief of Mental Health.

In October 2016, due to health issues and workplace stress from a new supervisor, Dr. Coppola’s physician placed him on leave, with a return planned for February 2017. After he requested leave, he received disparaging emails from supervisors.

Prior to his leave, he submitted a form for approval of his ongoing part-time work at Santa Rita Jail, which he had done since 2003. His supervisors approved this arrangement. However, while on Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave, CDCR began investigating him for alleged misconduct related to his secondary job.

Despite an initial conclusion that there were no grounds for misconduct, CDCR later acquired information about Dr. Coppola’s work hours at Santa Rita, claiming he worked there simultaneously as at DVI. This led to CDCR reducing his leave balances without prior notice, impacting his healthcare benefits.

Dr. Coppola filed a lawsuit against CDCR, alleging retaliation, and began working full-time at Alameda County while on unpaid leave. He ultimately announced his retirement in December 2018, effective January 2019.

Injury

The wrongful removal of Dr. Coppola’s leave credits significantly worsened his emotional and physical health. He experienced severe sleep disturbances and weight loss. He experienced major depression and intense anxiety, which affected him deeply. Dr. Coppola sought treatment with a therapist because of the mistreatment and retaliation he faced after taking his leave.

Damages

The Plaintiff argued that future non-economic damages would not be necessary if Dr. Coppola received vindication. They believed fair compensation for his economic damages and past non-economic harm would suffice.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Dr. Anthony Coppola
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Lawrance Bohm | Jack C. Brouwer | Noah Schwinghamer | Brian Crone
  • Defendant(s): California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Peter D. Halloran | Jennifer G. Stoecklein

Claims

Plaintiff argued that the Defendant’s failure to follow policy, along with the unfair treatment of Dr. Coppola, indicated a motive to retaliate against him. The timing of the Defendant’s actions and multiple instances of false testimony further supported this claim. Testimonies from his wife, therapist, and medical records demonstrated that his pre-existing conditions worsened. As a result, Dr. Coppola felt compelled to retire to avoid returning to a toxic workplace that had violated his rights during his protected medical leave.

Dr. Coppola worked at Alameda County only during his time off from DVI. Additionally, his schedule at Santa Rita Jail never conflicted with his responsibilities at DVI. He prioritized the needs of DVI above all else. Furthermore, no subordinate psychiatrist testified during the trial to support the State’s claim that he provided insufficient supervision at DVI.

Defense

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation asserted that its treatment of Dr. Coppola, while unfair and against the policy, did not stem from his protected medical leave. The department claimed that removing Dr. Coppola’s leave credits occurred because keeping them would constitute an improper gift of funds.

Additionally, the department argued that Dr. Coppola’s retirement was a business decision, asserting he could have returned to work at any time. They also contended that his non-economic harm was pre-existing, which meant he was not entitled to any compensation.

Jury Verdict

On July 19, 2024, the jury determined that Defendants had subjected Dr. Anthony Coppola to adverse employment action because he took medical leave. It was determined that the Defendant’s retaliation was a substantial factor in causing the Plaintiff harm. The jury awarded the following damages:

  • Past economic loss: $265,305
  • Future economic loss: $650,974
  • Past non-economic damages: $900,000

The total award was $1,819,279

On August 26, 2024, Judge George Abdullah, Jr. entered a judgment consistent with the verdict.

Court Documents:

Available upon request