Nurse who sued hospital for retaliation awarded $28 million

BOSTON – A jury has ruled that a Boston hospital retaliated against a Haitian-American nurse who stood up for a black colleague and has awarded her $28 million.

Gessy Toussaint’s attorney described Wednesday’s verdict against Brigham and Women’s Hospital as “monumental.” The Boston Globe reports that Toussaint also had accused the hospital of racial discrimination, but the jury didn’t find proof of that claim.

Toussaint says the retaliation started after she defended another Haitian-American nurse, Nirva Berthold, who also is suing the hospital. Berthold says she was denied a promotion because she’s black. That claim is still pending.

The hospital says it plans to appeal the retaliation ruling but is pleased with the decision on Toussaint’s discrimination claim.