News Notes: Jury Awards $19 Million To Disabled Employee Fired For Absenteeism

A jury in Sacramento recently awarded a staggering $19 million—$15 million of it in punitive damages—to a McKesson Corp. employee who claimed her employer violated disability bias and family and medical leave laws. Charlene Roby allegedly was fired under the company’s no-fault absence policy after several unexcused absences because of a panic disorder. She also alleged she was harassed because of a severe body odor she developed from the panic disorder. McKesson denied the charges. This enormous award is a reminder to make sure absences that may qualify as protected leave can’t be counted against an employee under a no-fault absence policy.