Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Williamsburg and Richmond Co-Managing Partner Susan Childers North and Associate Jonathan W. Gonzalez prevailed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, affirming the dismissal of discrimination claims on behalf of the firm's client, a hospital, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
The plaintiff, a former hospital employee of Pakistani descent, alleged that the hospital breached his residency contracts. He claimed that he faced discrimination in his role as a hospital physician resident and was wrongfully terminated based on his race, national origin, and religion. The plaintiff raised five claims including wrongful termination, retaliation, hostile work environment, breach of his second-year residency contract, and breach of a prospective third-year residency contract.
After the conclusion of discovery, GRSM moved for summary judgment dismissal on all counts on the basis that the plaintiff had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to create a genuine dispute at trial. The judge agreed with GRSM's argument and granted summary judgment on all five claims. The Fourth Circuit found no error in the judge's ruling and affirmed his decision.