Scott Teutscher, formerly the legal affairs officer for the Sheriffs' Association in Riverside, California, reported misuse of union funds and was fired in retaliation, according to a jury's verdict and was awarded $814,750 including $357.750 in punitive damages. The federal district judge, Hon. Robert Whaley, ruled that the funds' misuse also violated the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (commonly referred to as "ERISA"). Teutscher is seeking additional recovery including reinstatement to his former job, $490,000 in lost back pay and benefits along with nearly $1.5 million in attorney's fees.
Source: Press-Enterprise
