KANSAS CITY – Today, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, delivered a decisive victory for Charles Harris, upholding a $1 million damages judgment against the Missouri Department of Corrections and individual supervisors.
Mr. Harris, a former employee at the Chillicothe Correctional Center, filed his lawsuit in 2019 under the Missouri Human Rights Act, detailing a continuing course of racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and a hostile work environment. Following a subsequent trial on damages, the trial court awarded Mr. Harris $750,000 in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages.
In its decision today, the Court of Appeals firmly dismissed the defendants’ attempt to appeal the underlying judgment, cementing the trial court’s ruling and securing justice for Mr. Harris.
Trial counsel Cyrus Dashtaki released the following statement regarding today’s appellate victory:
“This appellate win is a monumental milestone not just for Mr. Harris, but for any public servant who has been subjected to systemic mistreatment. The Court of Appeals’ decision to uphold the judgment sends a powerful and undeniable message: no entity, not even the government, is above the law. We hope this result provides empowerment and courage to others to bravely stand up to discrimination and hold the government accountable for its actions.”
Dashtaki Law Firm, LLC exclusively represents employees standing up against employment discrimination based on age, race, sex, religion, national origin or disability. Please visit www.Dashtaki.com for more information.