Federal Court Enters $79.5 Million Judgment Against Ameris Bank in Whistleblower Retaliation Case
A federal court has entered a $79.5 million judgment against Ameris Bank following a unanimous jury finding that the institution wrongfully terminated Balboa Capital founder Patrick Byrne. The verdict, rendered in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, determined Ameris was liable for wrongful termination in violation of public policy, whistleblower retaliation, and breach of contract after Byrne challenged compensation calculations. The judgment includes $16.6 million in compensatory damages and statutory penalties, alongside nearly $62.9 million in punitive damages, which the jury found were warranted due to the bank’s malice, oppression, or fraud.
