Mahru Madjidi, a managing shareholder at Shegerian & Associates, led the case alongside co-counsel Justin Shegerian. Law360 recently named Madjidi a Rising Star under 40, citing this verdict as a centerpiece of her trial record. The specific facts underlying Slagel's discrimination claims and the company's defense remain largely unreported.
The verdict signals significant exposure for employers facing age bias litigation, particularly large national companies. Attorneys defending similar claims should expect plaintiffs' counsel to cite this result as a benchmark for damages. The size of the punitive award—roughly 80 percent of the total—suggests the jury found evidence of deliberate or reckless conduct rather than mere negligence, a distinction that may inform settlement valuations in comparable cases.