The case Galarsa v. Dolgen California LLC involved a dispute between a former employee, Galarsa, and her former employer, Dolgen California LLC, a retail company that operates Dollar General stores in California.

The Case: Galarsa v. Dolgen Cal., LLC

The Court: California Court of Appeals, Fifth District

The Case No.: F082404 (Cal. Ct. App. Nov. 19, 2021)

The Plaintiff: Galarsa v. Dolgen Cal., LLC

Galarsa, the plaintiff in the case, claimed she was wrongfully terminated from her job and discriminated against based on her age and disability. Dolgen California LLC hired Galarsa in 2008 as a store manager and later promoted her to district manager. In 2014, she was diagnosed with a medical condition that required her to take medical leave for several months. Upon her return to work, she got a demotion from district manager to store manager, resulting in reduced pay and benefits. Galarsa alleged that her demotion was a form of discrimination based on her age and disability and that her subsequent termination was in retaliation for her complaints about the demotion.

The Defendant: Galarsa v. Dolgen Cal., LLC

Dolgen California LLC argued that Galarsa was terminated for failing to meet the company's performance expectations and that her demotion resulted from her inability to perform her job duties.

The Case: Galarsa v. Dolgen Cal., LLC

The case went to trial, and the jury found in favor of Galarsa, awarding her over $1.7 million in damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages. Dolgen California LLC appealed the decision, arguing that the evidence did not support the jury's verdict and that the damages awarded were excessive. However, the appellate court upheld the jury's verdict, stating that there was sufficient evidence to support Galarsa's claims of discrimination and retaliation and that the damages awarded were reasonable, given the circumstances seen in the case documents. Galarsa v. Dolgen California LLC serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of avoiding discrimination based on age and disability and the potential consequences of retaliating against employees who raise concerns about discriminatory practices.

If you have questions about how to file a California age discrimination lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.