The Associated Press is reporting that a Los Angeles jury has awarded a $370 million verdict, including $25 million in punitive damages, in a defamation lawsuit against Georges Marciano, co-founder of Guess, Inc.

The plaintiffs in the action are five former employees of Marciano. He sued them in 2007, accusing them of stealing from him. His claims were dismissed, but the ex-employees counter-claimed for defamation.