An Australian radiologist fired after a colleague claimed he "performed a pelvic thrust" at her at a Christmas party has been awarded more than 350,000 Australian dollars ($237,000 U.S.) in damages, according to a report posted on news.com.au.
Kevin Daynes, MD, filed suit with the New South Wales Supreme Court after he was fired in May 2022 from the I-MED Radiology Cairns clinic for "bullying conduct and victimization" complaints from a female radiographer and a sexual harassment complaint from a female technologist, the outlet reported. The complaints were lodged after a December 2021 Christmas party and Daynes sought damages of 4.3 million Australian dollars ($2.9 million U.S.).
Judge Richard Cavanagh ruled that Daynes had been wrongfully terminated, saying that the claims "did not amount to 'serious misconduct' and therefore, the clinic was not justified in terminating Dr. Daynes," according to the news.com.au story.
Daynes was awarded six months of his salary -- 320,000 Australian dollars ($216,689 U.S.) -- plus interest, for a total of 367,952 Australian dollars ($249,160 U.S.).
