LAS VEGAS – Sept. 13, 2022 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, along with co-counsel, obtained a complete defense verdict for client Sbarro, LLC in an employment harassment case after a two-week federal jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada.
The trial involved severe claims of sexual assault and retaliation under Title VII that drew national media attention. The plaintiff, who asked the jury for more than $178 million in damages, was a once-undocumented immigrant who claimed that her former manager at the pizza chain restaurant assaulted her on numerous occasions over a six-month period and threatened her with deportation if she resisted him. The plaintiff further claimed that Sbarro failed to act or act appropriately once she raised complaints to the company. After deliberating for less than two hours, the jury returned a verdict against the plaintiff and in favor of defendants on all claims.
Representing Sbarro’s individual human resources director, Greenberg Traurig had also secured an initial motion to dismiss victory as well as a Rule 11 order sanctioning the plaintiff’s counsel for failing to conduct the “minimal due diligence” necessary before asserting claims against Sbarro’s human resource director in her individual capacity.
The Greenberg Traurig team was led by Shareholder Jason Hicks and included Shareholder Mark E. Ferrario and Associate Elliot Anderson, along with outside co-counsel.
The case is Meza-Perez v. Sbarro LLC et al., Case No. 2:19-cv-00373 (D. Nevada)
About Greenberg Traurig’s Litigation Practice: Greenberg Traurig’s Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firm’s trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the client’s unique needs and goals.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Las Vegas Office: Greenberg Traurig’s Las Vegas attorneys counsel clients in appellate, construction, corporate and securities, entertainment, gaming, intellectual property, litigation, and real estate matters.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e® Energy program certifies that the firm’s U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: www.gtlaw.com.