A Kentucky Man Wins a $450K Lawsuit After a Work Birthday Party Caused Panic Attacks
A Kentucky man has been awarded $450,000 in a lawsuit against his former employer after the company threw him a surprise birthday party despite his warnings that it would trigger stress and anxiety. According to BBC, Kevin Berling was working as a lab technician at Gravity Diagnostics when his co-workers conducted the lunchtime celebration back in August 2019.
In the lawsuit, Mr Berling claimed that the unwanted birthday party at the company caused him a series of panic attacks. He also alleged that the firm discriminated against him based on his disability.
The lawsuit was filed in Kentucky’s Kenton County. In the legal documents, Mr Berling stated that he had asked his manager not to celebrate his birthday at work as it normally does for its employees, as it could result in panic attacks and would bring back uncomfortable childhood memories. However, despite the request, the company threw him a surprise party, which triggered a panic attack.
