Judgments Totaling $1.155 Million Against Adventist Health Entered in Race and Sex Discrimination Case
PORTLAND, Ore., October 2, 2026. Smith Foster King has secured a $1.155 million judgment on behalf of Jessica Williams, a former manager at Adventist Health’s Portland home health operations, in a race and sex discrimination, harassment, and retaliation lawsuit filed in Multnomah County, Portland, Oregon. The judgment consists of a $750,000 principal amount plus $405,000 in attorney fees, costs, and disbursements.
According to the complaint, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Williams was the only Black woman managing a team at Adventist's Home Health Portland office. The complaint alleges that her direct supervisor, Jacob Summers, subjected her to months of racial and sexual harassment, including sexist and racist comments about her job performance and appearance, unwanted physical contact, and repeated use of racial slurs.
Adventist hired Summers despite knowing he had been terminated from two prior employers following workplace misconduct complaints involving female employees. It further alleges that, before Williams reported Summers, Adventist had received nine prior internal complaints about his conduct with female employees in less than two years but had never disciplined him.
Williams and several other coworkers reported an incident in which Summers screamed in her face and later threatened her, causing her to fear for her physical safety. Rather than placing Summers on administrative leave, Adventist retaliated by initiating an investigation into Williams’ own job performance. Adventist’s response, together with Summers’ repeated misconduct, left her with no reasonable choice but to resign.
The case was resolved through an Offer of Judgment accepted by Williams under Oregon court rules. Judgments were then entered against Adventist.
“I loved my job, and I believed in the work we were doing. I also believed that no one should have to endure discrimination or harassment to keep a job they love. I'm grateful this matter has been resolved, and I hope speaking up encourages others to do the same,” said Jessica Williams.
“This case wasn’t just about offensive conduct. It was about what happened after Ms. Williams reported it. Oregon law protects employees who come forward in good faith, and employers have a responsibility to take those reports seriously,” said Anne D. Foster, a partner at Smith Foster King.
About Smith Foster King
Smith Foster King is a plaintiff’s law firm representing individuals and businesses in employment and complex civil litigation in state and federal courts. The firm’s collaborative approach draws on decades of courtroom, litigation, and business experience to help clients navigate their most challenging legal disputes.
Smith Foster King handles a broad range of claims, including employment-related matters such as discrimination, retaliation, and workplace disputes, as well as cases involving personal injury, sexual assault, elder abuse, and business conflicts. Sam Smith, Anne Foster, and Jaimee King leverage their extensive courtroom and boardroom experience to deliver effective, personalized representation and help clients navigate complex legal challenges. For more information, visit smithfosterking.com or call 503.567.7100.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in future cases. Each case is evaluated on its own facts and merits.
