Christopher Peterson V. National Railroad Passenger Corporation Et Al

  • Court: California State, Los Angeles Division, District Court
  • Case Number: 2:22cv5485
  • Filed: August 4, 2022
  • Judges: Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong
  • Case Type: Employment (442)
  • Cause: Notice of Removal – Employment Discrimination

Parties Involved

  • Plaintiff(s):Christopher Peterson
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Matthew Ellsworth Roston | Schuyler Brooke Sorosky

 

  • Defendant(s): National Railroad Passenger Corporation
    • Counsel for Defendants: Hider Jamal Al-Mashat| Brandie N Charles

 Verdict Information

  • Verdict Date: February 6, 2024
  • Damages awarded to Plaintiff: $190,000.00
    • Past lost income and benefits: $175,000.00
    • Past mental and/or emotional distress: $15,000.00

 

About the Wrongful Termination Case

Cause:

Former Amtrak employee Christopher Peterson filed a complaint against his former employer, alleging wrongful termination following an incident at a public train station in Pomona, California, where he was acquitted of all charges related to the incident. Despite his acquittal, Amtrak terminated Peterson’s employment, citing reasons including his arrest and negative publicity. The complaint alleges violation of California Labor Code section 432.7 and various public policies protecting against the misuse of arrest records, privacy rights, due process, and the presumption of innocence.

Injury:

Peterson claims damages including lost employment compensation, benefits, emotional distress, and other losses due to Amtrak’s actions due to wrongful termination. He seeks compensation for economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, punitive damages, and reimbursement for legal costs.

Damages:

Peterson seeks judgment for general damages exceeding the court’s jurisdictional limits, compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, benefits, and earning capacity, as well as punitive damages and civil penalties. Additionally, he requests any other relief deemed just by the court and reimbursement for legal costs.

Jury Verdict:

The jury awarded $175,000.00 for past lost income and benefits and $15,000.00 for past mental and/or emotional distress. However, no amount was awarded for future lost income, benefits, or future mental and/or emotional distress.

Court Documents: Available upon Request

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