November 1, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Klinedinst Marketing

Klinedinst Attorney Wins Firm's Latest Professional Liability Trial by Defeating a Sexual Harassment Claim

SAN DIEGO, CA - Klinedinst attorney Greg A. Garbacz won a professional liability trial that arose from an underlying sexual harassment lawsuit against a San Diego employer.

Greg defended an attorney in a legal malpractice case that involved a claim by a plaintiff that his former attorney should have sued his employer for same-sex harassment, rather than for retaliation based upon same-sex harassment. The trial court bifurcated this trial, trying the same-sex harassment claim first to determine if it had any value or could have been successful. Consequently, the defendant "stepped into the shoes" of the underlying employer to demonstrate that the same-sex harassment claim lacked merit.

At the conclusion of this first phase of the case, a jury returned a special verdict on the underlying case in favor of the employer, demonstrating that the same-sex harassment claim had no value and resolving the malpractice claim in favor of the attorney. During the trial, Greg handled the delicate issues of same-sex sexual harassment allegations, the adequacy of the employer's investigation and remedial action, as well as the Faragher defense recently embraced by the Ninth Circuit. Faragher v. City of Boca Raton (1998) 524 U.S. 775.

A shareholder with the firm since 1997, Greg is a highly-rated attorney who offers comprehensive advice in professional liability cases, employment and labor law matters and general liability matters. Additionally, Greg counsels clients with regard to state and federal laws affecting employers, including legislation regarding hiring practices, benefits, and age and race discrimination.

Born in Columbus, Indiana, Greg graduated from Washington & Lee University School of Law, and has been licensed to practice law in California since 1993.

KLINEDINST PC, is a highly-rated full service law firm engaged in business transactions and litigation, employment and labor law, professional liability, environmental law, appellate law, construction and real estate, intellectual property, and international law. Klinedinst is comprised of highly skilled and experienced individuals offering a range of sophisticated legal services to corporate, institutional, and individual clients.