Jury Awards TQL $22.5M in Pregnancy Accommodation Case

A Hamilton County jury in Ohio has ordered logistics giant Total Quality Logistics to pay 22.5 million dollars in damages to the family of a newborn who died in 2021, after the company initially denied a pregnant employee's request to work from home during a high-risk pregnancy.

The verdict, delivered this week, stems from the case of Chelsea Walsh, who was employed as a claims associate at the Cincinnati-based firm. In early February 2021, Walsh underwent a cervical procedure to prevent premature labor, following complications that classified her pregnancy as high-risk. Her doctors prescribed modified bed rest, limited physical activity, and remote work to reduce stress on her body. On February 15, Walsh formally requested the accommodation from Total Quality Logistics, providing medical documentation to support the need.

The company denied the request, instructing Walsh to either return to the office or take unpaid leave, which would have jeopardized her income and health insurance coverage. Facing those options, Walsh reported to the office on February 22, against her doctors' advice. She worked there for three days before her condition worsened. On the evening of February...