Facts

Barbara Daggs worked as a property administrator for Alton Management Corp., a real estate management firm, from 2003 to 2005. Daggs alerted her supervisor regarding suspicious invoices she received, which were ultimately paid. She claimed that her work environment became difficult ever since she reported the suspicious invoices to her supervisor, which led to a poor performance review and a demotion. She went on leave for psychiatric stress and claimed she was constructively terminated months later.

Daggs sued Alton Management and her supervisor for wrongful termination, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Following defendant's motion for non-suit, Daggs dismissed her wrongful termination and retaliation claims. The supervisor was also later dismissed.

Alton Management denied that Daggs was terminated and that it was her choice not to come back to work. It also claimed that Daggs only made comments about the quality and completeness of the invoices, and did not mention anything illegal about the work. If she had done so, the company would have seriously investigated the claims. It further claimed that Dagg's quality of work suffered in 2005, which led to her poor performance review and subsequent demotion.

Damages

Daggs sought $115,000 in damages for past lost earnings and $70,000 for emotional distress.

Injuries

Daggs claimed anxiety and emotional distress.

Result

The jury found the company liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress and awarded Daggs $70,000 in damages.

Deliberation

1.5 days

Poll

8-3

Length

four days