Trial News

Celia Gonzalez was employed as a home care giver by Access Wisdom, Inc. Her manager, Connie Halkowitz, terminated her employment. Later that year, Halkowitz went to the Prestige Assisted Living facility, where she discovered that Gonzalez was providing caregiving services as part of her employment with another agency. Halkowitz informed Prestige’s community relations director that she had terminated Gonzalez due to accusations of theft, and the community relations director conveyed this information to a manager at Gonzalez’s new place of employment. Gonzalez was then removed from her position at the assisted living facility and from the agency.

Gonzalez sued Access Wisdom in Home Care, LLC—the successor to Access Wisdom, Inc., which is owned by Halkowitz—alleging defamation. The plaintiff claimed that Halkowitz’s statements were false and damaged her reputation in the field, causing her to suffer emotional distress and economic damages.

The jury awarded $350,000.

Citation: Gonzalez v. Access Wisdom in Home Care, LLC, No. C20180535 (Ariz. Super. Ct. Pima Cty. Aug. 1, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: Roger W. Frazier, Tucson.