Leona to Pay $11 Million to Gay Former Employee
"A jury awarded more than $11 million to a former hotel manager Tuesday after concluding he was fired by real estate maven Leona Helmsley because he is gay."
"The jury found that Charles Bell had endured a "hostile and abusive work environment" while running Helmsley's Park Lane Hotel. He was awarded $10 million in punitive damages and $1.2 million in compensatory damages."
"State Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub had told the jurors to take into account the defendant's financial condition and said Helmsley's net worth is estimated at $3.2 billion to $4 billion."
Kudos to Mr. Bell and his lawyers...for their perserverence in taking the case to trial--undoubtedly Mrs. Helmsley had a battery of high powered lawyers from a big firm--this just goes to prove that the little guy can win too.
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