Former Water District Employee Awarded $5 Million After Wrongful Termination Following Job-Related Injury

EAST WENATCHEE, Wash. — A jury has awarded $5 million to Brian Kniffen, a former employee of the East Wenatchee Water District, after ruling he was wrongfully let go due to a job-related spinal injury. The verdict highlights serious concerns regarding compliance with state and federal disability discrimination laws. The jury concluded that the Water District failed to provide reasonable accommodations for Kniffen, who was employed as a utility field inspector for nearly three decades. His back injury occurred in 2020 when he attempted to open a stuck water main valve. Following his injury, Kniffen … Read more