Elaine Dees sued her employer, Guyoungtech USA, Inc., because she believed she was wrongfully terminated for seeking worker's compensation for a wrist injury. A lower court awarded Dees $1 million in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages. Guyoungtech appealed, and the Alabama Supreme Court did not uphold the lower court's decision. Instead, the Alabama Supreme Court sent the case back for a new trial.
Specifically, the court concluded that Guyoungtech was entitled to a new trial due to the erroneous admission of evidence related to Dees's damages. The court found that the mortality tables admitted as evidence were not relevant. The court also took issue with evidence related to Guyoungtech's failure to report worker's compensation claims to its insurer. So, the court remanded the case back to the lower court for a new trial on the liability, compensatory damages, and punitive damages issues.
Injured Worker Appeals Termination Decision, Citing Retaliation Over Workers' Compensation Claim
Plaintiff's Retaliatory-Discharge Claim Dismissed Due to Previous Misconduct Determination
Court Reverses Trial Decision, Mandating Arbitration in Retaliatory-Discharge Claim
Court Dismisses Appeal in Tort-of-Outrage Claim Due to Inappropriate Final Certification
Disputed Termination Due to Attendance Issues Following On-the-Job Injury Leads to Legal Battle
Appeal Dismissed Due to Lack of Final Judgment in Retaliatory-Discharge Case
Court of Civil Appeals Upholds Summary Judgment in Favor of Hyundai Stipulating the Attendance, Bereavement-Leave and Serious-Misconduct Policies.
Retaliatory Discharge Claim did not Conflict with the Longshore Act and was not Preempted by it
Mental Anguish and Lost Wages Affirmed in Retaliation Case
Retaliatory Discharge Claim Survives Death of Worker
Plaintiff Failed to Prove Company Policy was Enforced in Discriminatory Manner
Retaliation Claim Subject to Arbitration Agreement
Plaintiff Awarded Benefits by Appellate Court
Post-Judgment Discovery Allowed to Calculate Average Weekly Wage