Partner In Medical Group Has Standing To Sue Under FEHA.

A doctor was the regional director for an emergency physicians’ medical group with 700 partners who work in emergency rooms throughout California.  She served on the Board of Directors for 11 months when she was terminated from her position as regional director after she reported that “certain officers and agents” of the group had sexually harassed female employees of the group’s management and billing subsidiaries.  A jury decided she was a partner, and then the trial court entered judgment in favor of the medical group because “she did not have standing to assert a cause of action for retaliation under FEHA [California Fair Employment and Housing Act.].” The Court of Appeal reversed and remanded.  Fitzsimons v. California Emergency Physicians Medical Group  (Cal. App. First Dist., Div. 3; May 16, 2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 1423, [141 Cal.Rptr.3d 265].