Iranian Scientist Wins $3.8 Million Lawsuit Against University of Alabama at Birmingham

Fariba Moeinpour, an Iranian-born research scientist, won a federal discrimination lawsuit against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for being harassed by a co-worker for nine years due to her ethnicity. The jury awarded her over $3.8 million in damages. Moeinpour, who emigrated from Iran in 1989, faced repeated taunting and abuse while working in a lab headed by Clinton Grubbs, with Mary Jo Cagle harassing her since day one. Despite Cagle’s abusive behavior, Moeinpour reported it to HR and Grubbs, who did not intervene and even called campus police to have her arrested. Moeinpour was ultimately fired for violating a policy against fighting and absenteeism, despite being the victim of violence. Cagle was ordered to pay Moeinpour $825,000 in compensatory and punitive damages by the jury. UAB, as her employer, was ordered to pay her $3 million in damages for not addressing the harassment. Moeinpour’s lawyer emphasized that people do not have to endure racial discrimination silently and that they can seek justice through the legal system. Despite going through a difficult legal battle, Moeinpour expressed her love for America and her determination to continue living in Birmingham. Her daughter, who is a lawyer, supported her throughout the ordeal, and Moeinpour believes that her good name has been restored now that justice has been served.

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