On Friday, August 1, Charlene A. Barker Gedeus, Shareholder and co-leader of the Higher Education practice group, and Melissa Weber, Counsel, achieved a significant victory for clients Drexel University and Drexel University College of Medicine ("Drexel") in a high-profile federal civil rights case. The jury delivered a full defense verdict, concluding that Drexel did not retaliate against Plaintiff Dr. Sharon Griswold, a former professor and emergency medicine doctor, who claimed she experienced a gender-based hostile work environment during her time at Drexel for speaking out against gender discrimination. Furthermore, the jury determined that Drexel adhered to civil rights laws prohibiting workplace gender discrimination, and that the Plaintiff's supervisor took reasonable steps to address her concerns.
During the trial, Gedeus argued that the Plaintiff had a successful career at Drexel, marked by multiple promotions and appointments, and that her termination was a direct result of the closure of Drexel's teaching hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital in 2019. Gedeus also emphasized that the Plaintiff did not suffer any financial harm, as she subsequently accepted positions at both Penn State and Merck.
The client is extremely satisfied with the outcome following several years of hard-fought litigation. Leading the effort, Gedeus was supported by the Buchanan team, which included Melissa Weber, counsel, Gavin Carpenter, associate, and Reeny Kelly and Gillian Rozenfeld, paralegals.