Verizon Ordered to Pay Disabled Woman $1.7 Million
June 3, 2002
Verizon, one of the nation's largest telecommunications companies, was ordered to pay a former employee $1.7 million last month for failing to adequately provide for her disability. Doreen Smith, who suffered debilitating injuries from an attack of polio when she was two, required special assistance from her employer, which she alleged was never provided during the later part of her tenure with Verizon.
According to the complaint, Verizon transferred Smith to an inconvenient location in Marlborough, Massachusetts where the company parking lot could not accommodate her specially equipped van. At her request, Verizon moved Smith to Boston, but she claimed finding a parking space in downtown was even more difficult. Eventually Smith was allowed to work from home, but Verizon failed to provide her with the correct equipment.
Plaintiff attorneys successfully argued that the inconveniences caused Smith's health to decline significantly faster than it would have under different conditions.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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