Harassed, Then Fired -- A San Bernadino Amazon Warehouse Worker Just Won A $1.2 Million Verdict Against The Behemoth.

The man came to work (because Amazon required, as a policy at the time, that all workers travel, and be seen in person, before a sick day might even be considered for approved, by line management!), with a verified doctor's note, for a panic attack that was causing him to vomit, and feel light-headed. [This was in the Time of Tangerine, when the at right was being permitted.] There was no dispute that the doctor had actually seen and diagnosed him. There was no dispute that he had available sick days to take.

Yet his manager, the nurse and the HR lead all told him it was Amazon's policy NOT to accept doctor's notes, as a valid excuse to take a sick day. They each ordered him to report to the line, for his shift. He walked out -- never to return, but to. . . quite appropriately, sue. That bit of odious behavior, in just one man's case, has now cost Amazon $1.2 million:

. . .The case went to trial and, on Nov. 2, a jury awarded Kopp $1.2 million, concluding that Amazon intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Kopp because its human resources department failed to properly address his complaints and stop the harassment.

Jurors, however, deadlocked on Kopp’s disability harassment claim in a 7-5 split in favor of Kopp, so there will be a retrial on that claim. In state court civil trials, at least nine of 12 jurors must find in favor of a plaintiff for the plaintiff to prevail. . . .

“It became apparent that (Kopp) was the joke and/or punching bag of the warehouse, which seemed to operate much like a high school bullying the disabled kid,” the suit alleges.

One employee told Kopp she was fired from her previous job because she stabbed a co-worker, leaving Kopp feeling “very threatened,” according to the lawsuit. . . .

Now you know. That is the third of three -- I had previously been waiting on a verdict, to report on this California Amazon HR malfeasance case (but then got busy on other matters, and forgot to check back in with local counsel in California). My apologies, as this came down about three weeks ago.

Onward, in any event, into a busy week of long dispersed family arrivals, and whipping up. . . some kitchen delights!

नमस्ते