An Ohio-based company has been ordered to pay over $22 million to a mother who was denied the opportunity to work-from-home during her high-risk pregnancy.
A jury at a Hamilton County court found that Total Quality Logistics’s refusal to allow Chelsea Walsh to work from home led to the death of her newborn baby, Magnolia, according to a press release from Wolterman Law Office.
Matthew C. Metzger, a co-counsel for the Walsh family, said in the press release that the entire situation was a “heartbreaking outcome for a young family.”
The Walsh family had been awarded $22,500,000 in the lawsuit.
On February 15, 2021, Walsh requested to work from home. That was four days after she underwent an operation on her cervix to prevent her from going into early labor, according to her lawsuit obtained by NBC News.
However, her lawsuit states that she was left with an “impossible choice” between working at the office and putting “additional strain on her child” or taking an unpaid leave of absence.
Chelsea had only recently taken a job at Total Quality Logistics at the time, although Local 12 reported the company knew that she was pregnant. Her husband, Matt, also worked there as an apprentice plumber.
She returned to the office on February 22 but was allowed to work from home two days later, her lawsuit says. She gave birth to her daughter that evening.
Magnolia was born at just 20 weeks and 6 days of gestation, according to the press release.
She had a heartbeat and was breathing when she was handed to her mother to hold. Magnolia died in her mother’s arms shortly after, according to her lawsuit.
Brian Butler from The Butler Trial Firm, who is a co-counsel for the Walsh family, said in a press release that the family “did not want to sit through a trial reliving these events.”
“But TQL gave them no choice,” Butler continued. “TQL had multiple opportunities to resolve this case for far, far less than the verdict.
“We wish those opportunities had been taken seriously.”
During an interview with Local 12, Butler revealed that Walsh had presumed that she would be able to work from home without issue.
The attorney said it was common for employees at Total Quality Logistics to work from home while quarantining with COVID.
Metzger, the other co-counsel, said that the case “wasn’t about the money” for the Walsh family.
“It was just vindication of justice,” he added. “Not hearing those precious words, ‘Mommy, I love you,' ‘Daddy, I love you.
“Not seeing her take her first steps, not seeing her go off to kindergarten, Jacob not getting to walk her down the aisle when she gets married,” he continued.
In a statement to Local 12, Total Quality Logistics offered its “condolences to the Walsh family.”
“We disagree with the verdict and the way the facts were characterized at trial,” the statement continued. “We are evaluating legal options and remain committed to supporting the health and well-being of our employees.”
The Independent has contacted Total Quality Logistics for comment.
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