"Ultimately some of the smallest businesses may think twice about employing young women through fear of them going on maternity leave, " he said.

BBC: EU plans longer maternity leave

Medlar testified she began recording Cisneros in 1990 out of fear that Cisneros, who was going through an on-again, off-again reconciliation with his wife, would stop the payments.

CNN: Ted Barrett/

It may be the lingering fear that a patient going under the knife does not always pull through.

ECONOMIST: GM and Chrysler