A landmark civil trial commenced in the High Court this week involving Dr. Avinash Sawh, the physician suspended in 2023 for racially insensitive comments, facing multiple allegations from former employee Chantelle Figaro. Presided over by Justice Christopher Sieuchand, the proceedings target Dr. Sawh, his wife Allison Dass-Sawh, and their medical practice, Sawh’s Medical Associates.
Figaro’s lawsuit alleges constructive dismissal, assault and battery, breach of contract, and significant damages stemming from her employment between October 2019 and October 2020. During detailed testimony, Figaro described a toxic work environment where she endured verbal abuse, racial slurs, and psychological intimidation that ultimately forced her resignation.
“I reached a breaking point after repeated attempts to address his behavior,” Figaro testified, revealing that Dr. Sawh made derogatory comments about her deceased father and created an atmosphere of constant fear. She acknowledged not filing police reports at the time due to apprehension about his temper.
The defense, led by attorney Mario Merritt, challenged Figaro’s credibility, suggesting she remained employed only to obtain professional certification. Figaro firmly rejected this characterization.
Adding complexity to the case, former employee Dr. Danielle Stewart testified about hearing concerning telephone conversations but admitted not intervening due to the power dynamics. “This was my first job, I didn’t feel emboldened enough to confront him,” she stated, acknowledging she should have reported unethical practices including medication date tampering.
Dr. Sawh’s testimony took surprising turns as he admitted to using derogatory language but claimed such incidents were rare. He denied threatening employees or sending inappropriate messages, suggesting potential AI manipulation or forgery of electronic evidence. Notably, he acknowledged not reporting these alleged fabrications to authorities or including them in his initial witness statement.
The case reveals broader issues in workplace dynamics and professional accountability within medical establishments, with Figaro seeking compensation for psychological harm, lost earnings, and reputational damage resulting from the alleged misconduct.