By Liz Kowalczyk, Boston Globe
A Haitian-American nurse who sued Brigham and Women’s Hospital for discrimination and retaliation was awarded more than $28 million by a jury Wednesday — an amount several attorneys said is the largest verdict of this type in Massachusetts.
Gessy Toussaint sued the hospital in 2014, describing in her lawsuit how she stuck up for another Haitian-American nurse who she believed was the victim of verbal abuse. After that, Toussaint said, the Brigham targeted her, investigating her for numerous instances of allegedly poor patient care.
A Suffolk Superior Court jury deliberated for more than three days. It said that Toussaint did not prove race discrimination but agreed that the Brigham and manager Mary Ann Kenyon were guilty of retaliation. Most of the award — $25 million — was for punitive damages.
