Ex-Nurse at Cooley Dickinson won $215K in lawsuit

NORTHAMPTON, Mass (AP) - A jury has ruled in favor of a former nurse at Northampton's Cooley Dickinson Hospital who said she had been sexually harassed and wrongfully fired after reporting the harassment.

Jillian Brown of Deerfield was awarded $215,000 in damages.

Brown filed suit in 2009 claiming that an emergency room physician began making "unwelcome and offensive" physical advances toward her.

Brown said she rejected a request for a date and the doctor's attitude and professionalism toward her deteriorated.

Brown said she was placed on suspension and ultimately fired in July 2009, after reporting the behavior. The hospital said Brown was fired due to charting errors in connection with the death of a patient in May 2009.

The Recorder of Greenfield reports that the hospital denies harassment and plans an appeal.