Plaintiff reported the alleged harassment but management said it could not be corroborated.
The Case
- Case Name: Giaquinta, Michelle v. San Diego Health Alliance dba Acadia Healthcare
- Court and Case Number: San Diego Superior Court / 37-2024-00002653-CU-WT-CTL
- Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
- Date Action was Filed: Thursday, January 18, 2024
- Type of Case: Employment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Marcella McLaughlin
- Plaintiffs:
Michelle Giaquinta, 51
- Defendants:
San Diego Health Alliance, Inc. dba Acadia Healthcare Fashion Valley CTC
- Type of Result: Jury Verdict
The Result
- Gross Verdict or Award: $105,000,000
- Economic Damages:
Economic damages not sought.
- Non-Economic Damages:
Past: $20,000,000
Future: $15,000,000
- Punitive Damages:
$70,000,000
The Attorneys
- Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Walker Law PC by Justin Walker and Jared Veliz, San Diego.
Small Law PC by Will Small, San Diego.
- Attorney for the Defendant:
Holland & Knight LLP by John Haney, Los Angeles.
Holland & Knight LLP by Mark Peters, Nashville, TN.
The Experts
- Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Bruce Yanofsky, Ph.D., forensic psychology.
Facts and Background
- Facts and Background:
This case involves plaintiff’s claims against her former employer, San Diego Health Alliance, Inc. d/b/a Acadia Fashion Valley CTC. Plaintiff was employed as a substance abuse counselor at defendant’s Fashion Valley comprehensive treatment center in San Diego beginning in August 2022. She was terminated from that employment on October 6, 2023.
- Plaintiff's Contentions:
That plaintiff was retaliated against and wrongfully terminated after reporting sexual harassment and workplace safety concerns. Plaintiff alleged that during her employment she was subjected to sexual harassment by a co-worker, Santos, and her employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent this harassment.
Moreover, in August 2023, a hidden camera was discovered in a gender-neutral staff bathroom at the facility that plaintiff and other employees regularly used. On or about September 20, 2023, plaintiff reported sexual harassment by Santos and her concern to management that Santos had placed the camera in the bathroom. Defendant informed her that it could not corroborate any of her claims. The day after communicating that to plaintiff, however, a patient lodged a sexual-harassment complaint against Santos. Defendant suspended Santos while it investigated the complaint – but defendant also suspended plaintiff, claiming they discovered some discrepancies in her notetaking for visits with the same patient. On October 6, 2023, defendant terminated both Santos and plaintiff.
- Defendant's Contentions:
Defendants alleged that plaintiff was terminated for failing to properly document a patient interaction.
Demands and Offers
- Plaintiff Final Demand before Trial: $700,000
- Defendant §998 Offer: $150,000
- Defendant Final Offer before Trial: $600,000
Additional Notes:
Acadia Healthcare, parent company of defendant, operates hundreds of clinics in 40 states. In April, the company announced almost $830 million in earnings over the first three months of 2026, a 7.6% increase over the prior quarter.