Disability Discrimination and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Case Results in $1.3 million Jury Verdict
Dr. Sam Deweese worked as a family practice physician for nearly twenty years at his clinic and earned high praise from his patients. He pledged his entire working life to the institution, committed himself to a high standard of excellence in his profession, and devoted a large capital contribution in order to secure his partnership. Dr. Deweese alleged that his clinic’s relationship with him changed after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in summer 2007.
Dr. Deweese alleged that his clinic’s leadership pressured, manipulated, and deceived him into relinquishing his shareholder status after his diagnosis. Minnesota law imposes a fiduciary duty on fellow shareholders in closely held corporations – each shareholder must act with loyalty and care toward their fellow shareholders.
Dr. Deweese further alleged that his clinic refused to increase his hours as it had previously promised in exchange for his shareholder status. In Minnesota, people are not allowed to make false promises that they have no intention of fulfilling in order to get others to enter into agreements – that’s called fraudulent inducement.
Dr. Deweese alleged that shortly after he complained to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights of disability discrimination, his clinic removed him from his position and ordered a fitness for duty evaluation. He was terminated shortly thereafter. He therefore alleged disability discrimination and retaliation under the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
Madia Law represented Dr. Deweese through nearly two years of litigation and a two week jury trial. The jury found that Dr. Deweese’s clinic breached its fiduciary duty toward him, frustrated his reasonable expectations of continued employment, and fraudulently induced him to sell his shares back to the clinic. The jury additionally found that Dr. Deweese’s complaint of disability discrimination to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights was a motivating factor in his clinic’s termination of his employment. Ultimately, the jury awarded Dr. Deweese $1,285,384.00 in damages.
What is a breach of fiduciary duty?
Shareholders in closely held corporations owe one another a fiduciary duty. In a fiduciary relationship, the law imposes the highest standards of integrity and good faith in dealings with one another. Owing a fiduciary duty includes dealing openly, honestly, and fairly with other shareholders.
Minnesota and Wisconsin courts have repeatedly found breaches of the fiduciary duty when shareholders threatened or deceived other shareholders into selling their shares. Further, shareholders breach their fiduciary duty by failing to disclose material facts.
You May Be Entitled to Actual Damages, Expectation Damages, Punitive Damages, and Attorney Fees
If you have been the victim of a breach of fiduciary duty or shareholder oppression, you may be entitled to actual damages, expectation damages, punitive damages, and your attorney fees and costs.
Contact Our Minnesota and Wisconsin Shareholder Dispute Lawyers Today
You must act quickly when it comes to bringing a claim for breach of fiduciary duty. If you wait, there may be strict statutes of limitation that will bar you from filing your claim. Call Madia Law today to discuss your case.
