Federal jury awards former Putnam County worker $333,349 in retaliation case

A federal jury in Tennessee awarded a former Putnam County maintenance worker $333,349.01 after he claimed he was fired for seeking permission to bring his certified service dog to work. The verdict topped a prior $35,000 defense settlement offer and highlights workplace protections tied to disability accommodations.

Why it matters: - The verdict raises the stakes for employers handling disability accommodation requests in the workplace. - The award sends a signal that retaliation claims tied to service-animal accommodations can produce substantial damages. - The case also underscores legal protections for workers with documented disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.

What happened: - A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee awarded $333,349.01 to a former Putnam County maintenance worker after a four-day trial. - The plaintiff, identified in court records as Mr. Vaden, claimed Putnam County terminated him after he asked to bring his certified service dog to work. - Gary Massey Injury Lawyers, a Chattanooga-based firm, represented Mr. Vaden in the case. - The lawsuit was filed under case number 2:24-cv-00083.

The details: - Trial testimony showed Mr. Vaden worked as a maintenance worker for Putnam County, Tennessee. - Mr. Vaden sought permission to bring a service dog to work after obtaining medical documentation and credentials for the animal. - Evidence at trial showed Mr. Vaden lives with post-traumatic stress disorder and an anxiety disorder that includes panic attacks. - Testimony established that the service dog was trained specifically to help with those conditions and was valued at about $10,000. - Attorney Ethan Hargraves tried the case, with assistance from attorney Nathan Slaymaker. - The last and best settlement offer before trial was $35,000. - Attorney fees in the case have not yet been determined. - The complaint named Putnam County, Tennessee, as the defendant and alleged retaliatory discharge in violation of applicable employment and disability protections.

Between the lines: - The verdict was far larger than the defense’s pretrial offer, suggesting the jury credited the plaintiff’s account of retaliation and harm. - The case shows how accommodation requests can become legal flashpoints when employers respond with termination instead of an interactive process. - The comments from the trial lawyers frame the outcome as a warning to employers, but that is their interpretation of the verdict rather than a separate legal finding.

What's next: - The court still has to determine attorney fees related to the case. - Workers who believe they faced retaliation or discrimination over an accommodation request may continue to use this verdict as a reference point when considering legal action. - Gary Massey Injury Lawyers is directing potential clients to contact the firm about workplace retaliation or discrimination claims.

The bottom line: - A Tennessee federal jury found in favor of a former county worker who said he was fired after asking to use a certified service dog at work, awarding more than nine times the defense’s last settlement offer.