Hershey Law's Johnny Rundell wins 27.5 million verdict against Dignity Health in a retaliation lawsuit filed by a nursing officer who raised patient concerns

 

Mr. Johnny Rundell of the LA law firm Hershey Law Firm was co-counsel for a 27.5 million employment verdict in Los Angeles. The other attorney is Mr. David deRubertis who is also one of the top  employment attorneys in California.

The plaintiff in the case is Nancy Valla who was the former nursing chief  officer at St. Mary's Medical Center. In her lawsuit, Ms.Valla claimed that the parent company Dignity Health unlawfully retaliated against her for raising safety concerns and failed to accommodate her disability in violation of California law.

I reached out to Mr. Rundell for comment. 

"Mr. Chiv: We are thrilled with this outcome for Nancy Valla, who courageously stood up for patient safety.  This $27.5 million verdict represents not only justice for Ms. Valla personally, but also reinforces the critical protections that California law provides against retaliation for raising legitimate safety concerns. It was truly a team effort and would not have been possible without Brennan Hershey and David deRubertis as well as all the other team members. Ultimately, this case serves as a powerful reminder that healthcare institutions must prioritize both patient safety and employee rights, and that those who speak up for what's right deserve protection under the law."

Los Angeles is competitive and it is a testament to Mr. Rundell that his fellow lawyers in Los Angeles reached out to me this morning to congratulate him on his victory.

Mr. Rundell represents former Deputy Public Defender Rory Kalin who sued Gregory Kreis who ended up settling with Kalin. Mendocino Judge Ann Moorman ruling for Kreis' co-defendants Humboldt County Public Defender Luke Brownfield and former Public Defender Marek Reavis is under appeal.