Dept. of Labor Loses at Trial but 'Reasonable Basis' Precludes Fee Award

CONCORD, N.H. - An employer who prevailed in a retaliatory discharge lawsuit arising from suspected mold exposure was denied attorney fees on March 31 when a federal judge ruled that the Department of Labor had a reasonable basis for the lawsuit. Chao v. Karamourtopoulos, et al., No. 04-CV-82SM (D. N.H.).

On June 10, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire found for veterinarian Audrey Karamourtopoulos and her Fremont Animal Hospital. The jury rejected the Department of Labor's assertion that former office manager Cheryl Lewis was discharged in retaliation for threatening to file a complaint …