Avellan v. Methodist Hospitals of Dallas
Cause No. CC-22-03003-C | County Court at Law No. 3, Dallas County, Texas
The Sanford Firm is proud to announce that a Dallas County jury returned a verdict of $4.4 million in favor of our client, Dr. Andrea C. Avellan, D.O., in her case against Methodist Hospitals of Dallas d/b/a Methodist Health System.
The Case
Dr. Avellan, a third-year resident in Methodist’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, devoted more than fourteen years of her life to becoming a physician. After announcing her second pregnancy in November 2020, she was placed on a Performance Improvement Plan that same day. Methodist Hospital subsequently refused to sign her Texas Medical Board application, placed her on probation, extended her residency, and ultimately terminated her from the program in violation of its Resident Physician Agreement.
The Verdict
After hearing the evidence, the jury found that Methodist Hospital failed to comply with its Resident Physician Agreement with Dr. Avellan. The jury awarded:
- $1.4 million in past lost earnings
- $3 million in future lost earnings
What This Case Represents
This verdict reflects the jury’s recognition that employers cannot derail the careers of women—and mothers—who have worked tirelessly to achieve their professional goals.
This jury verdict was returned on December 19, 2025. A final judgment has not yet been entered, and post-trial proceedings remain pending. The outcome of any individual case depends on its specific facts and circumstances.
Trial Counsel: Brian Sanford, BB Sanford, Yusuf Buttar