$9.15M Verdict Exposes Failures to Protect Employee from Harassment and Retaliation
- Team
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
A Santa Clara County jury has delivered a powerful message: no company, no matter how large or well-known, is above accountability. On Friday, June 27th, the jury awarded $9.15 million to our client, Peter Rogerson, a longtime senior employee of Power Integrations, Inc., finding the company liable for disability-based harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
This decisive verdict includes $6 million in punitive damages, underscoring the jury’s strong condemnation of Power Integrations’ conduct.
A Victory for Accountability
“This verdict is about more than one man’s story , it’s about standing up to a corporate culture that tolerated cruelty,” said lead attorney Tanya Gomerman. “When even the CEO won’t condemn discriminatory behavior, the jury has to do it for him. And they did.”
From Dedicated Director to Targeted Employee
Mr. Rogerson, 63, was a respected Senior Director of Worldwide Marketing Communications who dedicated over ten years to the San Jose-based semiconductor company. He had received high praise for his work, including from the company’s CEO, before suffering a serious injury on a business trip that left him needing a cane to walk.
Instead of support, Mr. Rogerson endured repeated mockery from senior leadership and colleagues. He was referred to as a “cripple,” told he looked “twenty years older,” and compared to a horse ready for the glue factory. At trial, Vice President of Marketing Douglas Bailey admitted under oath that he called Mr. Rogerson “gimpy”, and expressed no shame in doing so.
“I dedicated over a decade of my life to this company and never imagined I’d be treated like I didn’t matter,” said Mr. Rogerson after the verdict. “When I spoke up for myself, I was ostracized and punished. I’m grateful to the jury for seeing the truth and holding Power Integrations accountable.”
Speaking Up Came at a Cost
Mr. Rogerson complained to his manager about the harassment, but no report was made to HR. Months later, he was abruptly told the company was “going in a different direction.” He was then given two options: take severance and resign immediately or continue working for four months. When Mr. Rogerson formally complained to HR, citing specific examples and offering documentation, the company didn’t investigate, it instead accelerated his termination. No emails were reviewed. No interviews were conducted. No one was held accountable. Watch Power Integrations CEO Balu Balakrishnan refuse to condemn the harassment when questioned under oath by attorney Ashley Pellouchoud.
This moment helped jurors see the company’s leadership culture for what it was, silent, dismissive, and unwilling to take responsibility.
The Jury Sent a Clear Message
The jury didn’t just find that Power Integrations made a mistake, they found that the company violated the law in multiple ways. Their verdict held the company accountable for:
Harassing Mr. Rogerson because of his disability
Failing to take steps to prevent that harassment
Retaliating against him for speaking up
Failing to prevent that retaliation
And ultimately, engaging in conduct so egregious it warranted punitive damages
This wasn’t a close call. It was a firm and unanimous statement that what happened to Mr. Rogerson should never happen in any workplace.
Beyond the Verdict
We are proud to have represented Mr. Rogerson in his fight for dignity, accountability, and justice. We hope this result serves as a wake-up call to companies everywhere: discrimination, harassment, and retaliation have real consequences.
Read our official press release for full details on the case and jury verdict.
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