Underwood v. Health Net

In January 2010, Partners Linda Miller Savitt and Eric Schwettmann obtained summary judgment in Underwood v. Health Net, et. al. (Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BC 397752). The African-American plaintiff claimed he was discriminated against, retaliated against, and harassed by his Caucasian supervisor on the basis of race and gender. He also claimed that Health Net failed to investigate his complaints and failed to prevent the alleged conduct from occurring. He finally claimed that Health Net breached an implied contract that his employment would only be terminated with good cause. The court found that the plaintiff was not harassed under any theory and that his undisputed insubordination (refusal to work at his office three days a week) constituted non-discriminatory, non-retaliatory good cause for the termination of his employment.