Date: 07-20-1999

Case Style: BRIAN GAUDIO v. GRIFFIN HEALTH SERVICES CORPORATION

Case Number: SC 15756

Judge: Corradino

Court: Superior Court in the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford, Connecticut.

Plaintiff's Attorney: Lawrence C. Sgrignari , Hamden, Connecticut.

Defendant's Attorney: Emanuel N. Psarakis , Lisa Gizzi , and Andrew S.Golden , Hartford, Connecticut; and Robert B. Mitchell , Margaret M. Scheahan and Loraine M. Cortese-Costa , Bridgeport, Connecticut, for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association as amicus curiae.

Description: The plaintiff, a former security officer for the defendant hospital, sought to recover for defamation and the allegedly wrongful termination of his employment following an incident in which he was required to restrain a psychiatric patient who had become violent with hospital personnel.

Outcome: The jury rendered verdicts in favor of the plaintiff, awarding him $100,000 in economic damages and $100,000 in non-economic damages. The trial court thereafter denied the defendant's motions to set aside the verdict, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and for remittitur. The court thereupon rendered judgment for the plaintiff in accordance with the jury's verdict.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: Defendant appealed. The Supreme Court of Connecticut affirmed the trial court judgment except as to the award of economic damages, with respect to which it ordered a remittitur in the amount of $39,089. See: 733 A2nd. 197 (Conn.1999). The date shown above is the date of the appellate court decision and not the trial date. Reported by JAB.