No specific laws identified for this ruling.
Jury verdict in favor of plaintiff Cheryl Shephard on age-discrimination claim against CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC. Plaintiff awarded $544,997 in compensatory damages (back pay, front pay, pain and suffering, mental anguish), $1,089,994 in punitive damages (after cap reduction), $419,052 in attorney's fees, $41,538.21 in litigation expenses, and $30,478.18 in prejudgment interest, for a total judgment of $2,126,059.39. Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court judgment.
Jury trial; age discrimination; McDonnell Douglas analysis; motion for directed verdict; motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (\JNOV\); R.C. 4112.14(A); prima facie case; legitimate nondiscriminatory reason; pretextual; punitive damages; actual malice; motion for new trial; Civ.R. 59(A); abuse of discretion; Civ.R. 49(B); jury interrogatories; jury verdict; jury confusion and irregularities; Evid.R. 408; severance agreement; failure to object. Appellant appeals trial court's judgments entries journalizing jury verdicts and the denial of various motions and evidentiary rulings by the trial court throughout the ten-day jury discrimination trial against its ex-employee appellee. On review, we find the trial court properly denied appellant's motions for directed verdict and motion for JNOV as to appellee's claims for discrimination and for punitive damages. The case properly went to the jury who found discrimination and awarded punitive damages. The trial court also did not abuse its discretion in making evidentiary rulings against appellant or in denying appellant's several motions for a new trial. The trial court properly resolved the jury's confusion regarding the multiple interrogatories and general verdict forms.
Shephard v. CrossCountry Mortgage: Age Discrimination Court Ruling
What Happened
Cheryl Shephard worked at CrossCountry Mortgage and claimed the company fired her because of her age. She sued, arguing the termination was discriminatory and wrongful. CrossCountry Mortgage argued it had legitimate, non-age-related reasons for letting her go. A jury heard evidence from both sides during trial.
What the Court Decided
The jury sided with Shephard, finding that CrossCountry Mortgage had discriminated against her based on age. The court awarded her over $2.1 million in total damages, including:
- $544,997 for lost wages, future earnings, and emotional harm
- $1,089,994 in punitive damages to penalize the company's conduct
- $419,052 in attorney's fees and court costs
The appeals court upheld this decision, confirming the original judgment stood.
Why This Matters for Workers
This case shows that employers cannot hide age discrimination behind false justifications. When workers can prove they were fired because of their age, courts will hold companies accountable—awarding substantial damages and requiring them to pay legal fees. The ruling reinforces that age protection laws have real consequences for employers who violate them.
This summary was generated to explain the ruling in plain English and is not legal advice.
Court rulings like this one are useful, but every situation is different. Take 3 minutes to see which laws may protect you — it's free, private, and no account is required to start.
This ruling information is sourced from public court records via CourtListener.com. Case outcomes, claim types, and summaries are extracted using AI analysis and may be incomplete or inaccurate. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
See something wrong, or named in this ruling and want it corrected or redacted? Request a correction.