Edwards v. Shelby County

Case Background

On October 05, 2022, Rebecca Edwards filed a lawsuit against Shelby County, Tennessee, claiming wrongful termination, retaliation, and discrimination due to her disability and requests for accommodations. She sought legal relief for violations of her rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Constitution, and local civil service laws.

The disability discrimination lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Tennessee Western (Memphis). Chief Magistrate Judge Tu M. Pham presided over this case. [Case Number: 2:22cv2682]

Cause

Rebecca Edwards worked for Shelby County during the Covid-19 pandemic. She joined in August 2020 as a contact tracer for the health department. Her role involved contacting and supporting individuals isolating due to Covid-19 symptoms.

In September 2021, Edwards called her manager the night before a scheduled workday to request a day off. She was experiencing an asthma flare-up and lacked her medications. Her request was denied.

Two weeks later, Edwards was given a new work schedule, which required her to work from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This change meant Edwards would have to drive after dark, which was a concern. She regularly delivered supplies to the Econo Lodge in Lakeland, TN, where Covid-19 patients were housed. However, Edwards suffers from night blindness, making night driving unsafe for her.

She requested a shift change as an accommodation, but her manager denied her request. A week later, Edwards was terminated. The health department cited poor performance, including attendance issues and insubordination, as the reasons for her dismissal.

Damages

The Plaintiff requested nominal damages. She also sought compensatory damages, including back pay based on an annual salary of approximately $49,310, plus benefits. This request covered unpaid social security quarters, unpaid entitlements, bonuses, and contributions to her retirement accounts. The Plaintiff also requested $59,000 for the lost employment she would have had if not for her unlawful termination. This amount covered a three-year period. Further, the Plaintiff sought compensatory damages for emotional pain and suffering.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Rebecca Edwards
    • Counsel for Plaintiff(s): Steven George Wilson | Robert Amann | Matthew Charles Gulotta
  • Defendant(s): Shelby County, Tennessee operating as the Shelby County Health Department
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): Roy H. Chockley, Jr. | Emmett Lee Whitwell

Claims

Edwards filed a lawsuit against Shelby County, claiming disability discrimination in several ways. The first count accused the county of violating the ADA by failing to accommodate her asthma. She argued that the county should have allowed her to take a day off due to her condition.

Edwards also presented two separate counts related to her night blindness. The first claim was that the county fired her because of her night blindness. The second claim was that the county retaliated against her for requesting a reasonable accommodation for her condition.

If Edwards prevailed, she could seek damages on any of the three counts.

Defense

Shelby County rejected all claims. It argued that allowing Edwards a day off on short notice for asthma would have caused undue hardship. The County also denied that night blindness played any role in the termination decision. As previously mentioned, Shelby County maintained that the termination was based solely on Edwards’ performance.

Jury Verdict

On July 18, 2024, the jury returned a verdict after a four-day trial. Edwards won on the ADA claim related to asthma. She received $205 in nominal damages and an additional $410 in compensatory damages, as permitted by the instructions.

Next, the jury addressed the disability discrimination claim regarding her night blindness. It found that Edwards had been discriminated against because of her condition. The jury also determined that Edwards faced retaliation for seeking an accommodation.

Having succeeded on both discrimination and retaliation claims, the jury moved to damages. Edwards had the option to seek damages on any of the three claims, and she chose compensatory damages for her night blindness discrimination and retaliation claims. She chose compensatory damages of $100,000, along with $38,009 for lost wages. The total verdict for Edwards amounted to $138,624. A final judgment was entered in her favor.

Court Documents:

Documents are available for purchase upon request at jurimatic@exlitem.com