An Oakland jury has ordered Home Depot to shell out almost $1.7 million for retaliating against an employee who complained about sexual harassment and failing to accommodate her under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Denise Restivo, a computer systems coordinator, was demoted and transferred after charging that managers made sexual remarks and mocked the company’s sexual harassment sensitivity program. Then, while on medical leave for a neck injury, she was fired. Restivo claimed that the company didn’t accommodate her earlier request for a medical leave and that she was demoted and fired in retaliation for her complaints. Home Depot denied the charges and argued she was terminated because she didn’t follow procedures for extending her leave when it expired. Home Depot also faces a separate sex discrimination class action lawsuit.
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