Walmart Seeks New Trial Amid Landmark Disability Discrimination Case
Retail behemoth argues it lacked awareness regarding accommodation needs of longtime employee with Down syndrome.
Walmart challenges a significant jury verdict, seeking a new trial in a wrongful termination case involving an employee with Down syndrome.
Black & WhiteBENTONVILLE, ARK. — Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, has initiated a fresh legal offensive, petitioning a federal court to overturn a substantial jury verdict that found the company liable for the wrongful termination of a longtime employee with Down syndrome.
The retail giant’s latest filing contends that it was unaware of the direct link between the employee’s disability and her difficulties adjusting to a revised work schedule, a crucial element in the original legal proceedings. This maneuver, unveiled in court documents earlier this week, underscores the persistent legal battle surrounding corporate responsibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The case revolves around Marlo Spaeth, who dedicated 16 years of service to Walmart before her dismissal in 2015. A jury in Wisconsin previously awarded Ms. Spaeth $125 million in punitive and compensatory damages, a sum subsequently reduced to $300,000 to comply with federal statutory limits. That verdict asserted that Walmart had failed in its duty to provide reasonable accommodation for Ms. Spaeth's disability before her termination.
Walmart's current appeal, as reported by CNBC.com, challenges the factual basis of the prior judgment. The company's legal team is arguing that it could not be held responsible for failing to accommodate a disability if it did not possess explicit knowledge of the specific connection between the disability and the employee's inability to adapt to the new schedule. This stance suggests a high bar for what constitutes
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