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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=297450" target="_blank">
Jury awards $3.2 million to ex-Tapout employee
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<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=297450" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=100&q=75&x=55&y=107&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=tapout-hat-06-19-10-9-32-54-166.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[bhcourier.com]</strong>
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A former TapouT sales representative who filed suit over a wage dispute with the action sportswear company was today awarded $2.4 million in punitive damages by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury.
The panel deliberated for about a half-hour before finding in favor of Michelle Thomas in her wrongful termination case. The same panel on Monday awarded her $840,000 in compensatory damages, bringing her total award to more than $3.2 million.
Thomas, a 32-year-old trade show model from San Pedro, wept when she heard Monday's verdict and today was "overwhelmed," said her lawyer, Carney R. Shegerian.
"We're very happy and pleased that the jury saw through all the (TapouT) smoke and mirrors," Shegerian said.
The punitive damages phase was triggered when the panel concluded that TapouT acted with malice toward Thomas, who filed her suit in October 2008.