Disability

Landmark Disability Case: Ontario Court of Appeal Confirms Record $1.5 Million Punitive Damages Award Against Blue Cross Life Insurance

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Toronto, Ontario – In a landmark case against a disability insurer, the Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld the largest punitive damages award in Canadian history, amounting to $1.5 million. The decision in Sara Baker v. Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada sheds light on the reasoning behind this substantial sum. Previously, the jury’s rationale for the award had remained unknown as they are not required to provide written reasons for their verdicts. The case revolves around Baker, who had suffered a stroke and brain bleed, rendering her unable to continue her job as … Read more

Luxury New York Hotel Ordered to Pay $42,000 in Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

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NEW YORK CITY – Library Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel in New York City, has been ordered to pay $42,000 to a former front desk employee in a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the EEOC. The lawsuit alleged that the hotel denied the employee’s request for a reasonable accommodation for their disability, which made it difficult for them to stand for long periods of time. Instead of granting the request, the hotel offered alternative accommodations that the EEOC deemed insufficient. As a result, the employee was forced to resign due to the deterioration of their … Read more

Werner Enterprises and Drivers Management Ordered to Pay Deaf Truck Driver Over $335,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Case

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OMAHA, Nebraska – Trucking companies Werner Enterprises, Inc. and Drivers Management, LLC have been ordered by a federal judge to pay $335,682 to a deaf truck driver, following a jury’s decision in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on disability discrimination claims. The judgment also requires the companies to provide semi-annual reports to the EEOC for the next three years, detailing information about deaf truck driver applicants and new hires. The verdict comes after a jury awarded $36 million in punitive damages and $75,000 in compensatory damages to truck driver Victor Robinson. … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds $24 Million Verdict in Landmark Disability Discrimination Lawsuit against Clinical Testing Firm

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A federal district court judge in Massachusetts has upheld a $24 million jury award for a former employee who sued her employer for retaliation and discrimination based on her social anxiety disorder. The employer, PPD Development, had requested the court to set aside or reduce the award, arguing that it was excessive and unsupported. However, U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin rejected these requests and affirmed the jury’s verdict. In 2015, Lisa Menninger was hired as the executive director of the central labs at PPD, a clinical testing firm. She began working … Read more