Fired embassy worker wins harassment case but loses most of her damages

Lost wages came in at $73,241.52 – two years’ pay at $3,051.73 per month. The court noted her job search evidence only started in July 2024, a full year after her July 2023 termination, and saw nothing justifying three future years of compensation. 

Emotional distress dropped from $700,000 to $50,000. The worker described nightmares, strained relationships, and withdrawal from social life, but offered no corroborating evidence beyond her own affidavits. 

Punitive damages were blocked outright. The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act bars punitive damages against a foreign state. 

The court added $605 in costs and $31,662.75 in attorney fees. 

For HR professionals, winning on liability means nothing if the damages file cannot stand on its own. Documentation, mitigation records, and third-party evidence matter just as much after the finding as the facts did before it.