Shegerian & Associates to Help Price is Right Model Pursue and Achieve Closure in Discrimination Ruling

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shegerian & Associates, Inc., a Santa Monica-based litigation law firm specializing in employee rights, has announced that it will help former Price is Right model Brandi Cochran seek justice in her pregnancy discrimination case, after having already received one jury verdict late last year that was nullified by the court due to a procedural glitch.

“It’s unfortunate that we will have to go through an entire new trial to help Ms. Cochran achieve some closure due to a procedural error, but we understand that mistakes happen and we are fully prepared to once again fight for justice on behalf of our client”

Last November, Shegerian & Associates founder Carney Shegerian achieved a jury ruling in Cochran’s favor for $8,546,384 in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The jury determined that Cochran had been the victim of pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination, awarding her $776,944 in compensatory damages and $7,769,440 in punitive damages.

A California state court judge nullified the jury award for Cochran last week because the jury didn’t receive the full and proper instructions before making its decision. Cochran will now have to pursue the award again with a whole new trial, new judge and new jury.

“It’s unfortunate that we will have to go through an entire new trial to help Ms. Cochran achieve some closure due to a procedural error, but we understand that mistakes happen and we are fully prepared to once again fight for justice on behalf of our client,” said Shegerian. “Ms. Cochran is a classic example of a segment of our employee population in the US that has historically been wrongfully discriminated against. This case shines a light on the fact that employers in the US must be made to understand that they cannot discriminate against their pregnant employees or employees who contemplate starting or expanding their families. 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. We look forward to making that point once again in 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. During the first 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.

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 62 jury trials, including 24 seven-figure verdicts representing employees.

Santa Monica-based 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 62 jury trials in his career, including 24 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.