Nurse says she needed a special desk and the County did not timely provide it. She had been off work for six years.
The Case
- Case Name: Brown v. County of Los Angeles
- Court and Case Number: Los Angeles Superior Court / 20STCV36669
- Date of Verdict or Judgment: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Date Action was Filed: Friday, September 25, 2020
- Type of Case: Employment
- Judge or Arbitrator(s): Hon. Michael C. Small
- Plaintiffs:
B. Brown
- Defendants:
County of Los Angeles
- Type of Result: Jury Verdict
The Result
- Gross Verdict or Award: $11,845,510
- Economic Damages:
$5,845,510.00
- Jury Polls: 12-0 for plaintiff on Cause of Action #1 for Failure to Reasonably Accommodate under the FEHA; 10-2 for Defendant on Cause of Action 32 for Disability Discrimination under FEHA.
The Attorneys
- Attorney for the Plaintiff:
Sottile Baltaxe by Timothy B. Sottile and Michael F. Baltaxe, Agoura Hills.
- Attorney for the Defendant:
Hausman & Sosa, LLP by Jeffrey M. Hausman and Lisa Grigg, Woodland Hills.
The Experts
- Plaintiff’s Medical Expert(s):
Richard Nussbaum, M.D., orthopedics.
- Plaintiff's Technical Expert(s):
Robert Sniderman, Ph.D., human resources.
Facts and Background
- Facts and Background:
Plaintiff, 47 years old, was hired by the LA County Department of Public Health as a health facilities evaluator nurse. She disclosed her pre-existing disabilities and medical restrictions requiring her to sit and stand at 30-minute intervals at her workstation. She requested that she be reasonably accommodated by being given a sit-to-stand desk, anti-fatigue mat, an adjustable task chair, ergonomic keyboard and mouse and a document holder.
The County agreed to these reasonable accommodations but failed to provide the crucial sit-to-stand desk and anti-fatigue mat for at least eight months, during which time plaintiff reported increasing pain and complained about not receiving the equipment. She started to miss work as a result and was written up. Plaintiff became symptomatic and was put off work by her doctors before the equipment was installed. She has not been returned to work by her doctors in the intervening six years.
While on an unpaid medical leave and during the pendency of her worker's compensation case and her FEHA case, she was deemed by the County to have impliedly resigned for not timely submitting medical certifications and she was terminated.
- Plaintiff's Contentions:
That by unconscionably delaying plaintiff's essential ergonomic equipment the County failed to reasonably accommodate her disabilities in violation of the FEHA, aggravating her pre-existing disabilities and rendering her unable to work.
That plaintiff still needs no fewer than four orthopedic surgeries as a result of the County’s failure to reasonably accommodate her.
- Defendant's Contentions:
That the delay in providing the sit-to-stand desk was not unreasonable and did not cause her injuries; that they were pre-existing.
Injuries and Other Damages
- Physical Injuries claimed by Plaintiff:
Aggravation of orthopedic disabilities requiring surgery to plaintiff's cervical spine, shoulder, both wrists and possibly lumbar spine.
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Pain and suffering and emotional distress injuries as well as loss of earnings and benefits.