Congratulations to Lenny Kesten and Erica Brody for their $11 million jury verdict in Suffolk Superior Court! The jury’s decision capped a protracted legal battle by Major Kathryn Downey, a 20-year veteran of the force, who first filed suit in 2018, claiming retaliation and gender discrimination. The case was initially dismissed in 2021 after summary judgment, but the appeals court reinstated Downey’s claims against the State Police last year, paving the way for a trial. After an eight day trial, jurors found that Downey suffered “emotional distress” and that discriminatory acts by the State Police were “intentional and reckless or recklessly indifferent”. They ordered the state to pay $10 million in punitive damages and $1 million in compensatory damages. In a statement to the Boston Globe, Downey’s attorneys, Leonard Kesten and Erica Brody, said the verdict “sends a clear message: discrimination is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, especially in a profession tasked with upholding the law for all people.” Congratulations to Lenny and Erica – and to Major Downey for her continued advocacy for equity in this male dominated field.
Lenny Kesten and Erica Brody win $11 million in gender discrimination suit against Massachusetts State Police
