Verdicts

Probation Officer Who Was Demoted Gets $175K

Bowie County agreed to pay $175,000 to a probation officer who claimed she was demoted for reporting that a child was abused while in custody at a detention center. Karen Foster, a 29-year county employee, claimed that her supervisor, Bruce Ballou, had directed employees not to report allegations of abuse, and when she did so, he retaliated by demoting her and reassigning her to an office about 23 miles away. Her salary was not reduced, but she claimed she lost sick days and incurred mileage expenses due to the transfer. Shortly before jury selection was to begin, the county and Ballou agreed to the settlement, which was to be paid by their insurer. Foster v. Bowie County, No. 2-05CV-526, United States District Court, Eastern District, 12-02-2006 .

Jury Awards $3.3M to Employee Paid in Gift Cards

On Oct. 1992, Kathleen Stahl, a woman in her 50s, began work at the AC Moore arts and crafts store in Moorestown, NJ. Stahl claimed that she was verbally harassed into quitting her job in April 2002 after she complained about a manager who was paying overtime wages in store gift cards rather then actual salary. Stahl alleged she complained about the gift card practice in December 2001. After she did so, she said she was subjected to intense criticism, including yelling and being told she was an incompetent and terrible employee by store management as a result of her complaints. AC Moore denied Stahl's allegations, claiming she was not subject to such abuse. The jury found for Stahl and awarded her a total of $3.319 million. Stahl v. AC Moore, No. BUR-L-00997-03, Burlington County Superior Court, NJ, 10-30-2006.

Probation Officer Who Was Demoted Gets $175K

Bowie County agreed to pay $175,000 to a probation officer who claimed she was demoted for reporting that a child was abused while in custody at a detention center. Karen Foster, a 29-year county employee, claimed that her supervisor, Bruce Ballou, had directed employees not to report allegations of abuse, and when she did so, he retaliated by demoting her and reassigning her to an office about 23 miles away. Her salary was not reduced, but she claimed she lost sick days and incurred mileage expenses due to the transfer. Shortly before jury selection was to begin, the county and Ballou agreed to the settlement, which was to be paid by their insurer. Foster v. Bowie County, No. 2-05CV-526, United States District Court, Eastern District, 12-02-2006 .