04/14/2017
$7.5 Million Dollar Punitive Verdict Against California’s Largest Provider of Behavioral and Mental Health Services.
Following a Sacramento jury’s unanimous verdict on behalf of a minor child who was severely neglected during his residency at a large group home in Davis, CA, owned and operated by EMQ FamiliesFirst, the jury found that managing agents of EMQ FamiliesFirst, which boasts itself as California’s “largest provider of behavioral and mental health services,” engaged in malice, fraud and/or oppression as it found the company guilty of three counts, including (1) fraud, (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress, and (3) negligence.
The jury awarded damages to the child of over $4.55 million dollars.
Because the jury found the corporation engaged in malice, fraud and/or oppression, the jury was permitted to render a punitive verdict to punish the defendant and to discourage similar future conduct. The Defendant, who casts itself as a poor non-profit, was shown to have more that $17 million dollars of cash on hand and more that 22 million dollars in liquid investment assets. The company also had $4 million dollars of a $5 million dollar line of credit available. The jury learned that company was forced to make an involuntary payment of $7.35 million dollar payment in 2012, and it had no material impact on their ability to conduct any of its business.
The jury announced today their punitive verdict of $7,500,000.00.
Read the full synopsis and press release, including a statement from the family here: http://seanlairdlaw.com/victims/emq-families-first-lawsuit-davis/
