A Jersey City man, who had been fired by Bayonne Medical Center, has been awarded more than $2.1 million after filing a lawsuit against the hospital under New Jersey’s whistleblower law.
The whistleblower, Ceferino Doculan, was given $2 million in punitive damages, $80,000 in lost wages and $60,000 for pain and suffering. Doculan, who had been employed by the hospital for over 20 years, was fired after informing his superiors that his direct supervisor was not qualified and did not have the proper credentials for the position.
Doculan contended that he was fired because of his protected complaint and the hospital contended he had not been, but deserved to be fired. The jury apparently didn’t agree that the predominant reason for his discharge was his performance, and found the predominant reason was his protected conduct.