A federal judge has steeply cut a major jury award to a former UPS driver who claims he was racially discriminated against by his employer.
At a Glance
- The original $237.6 million jury award was reduced to $39.6 million.
- The judge cited the jury’s lack of evidence as a reason for the reduction.
- Gratton’s claims include racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal.
- UPS plans to challenge the judge’s decision and seek a retrial.
Judicial Decision on Compensation
A federal judge has significantly lowered the initial jury award from $237.6 million to $39.6 million in a case involving Tahvio Gratton, an ex-UPS driver. Gratton alleged workplace bias and wrongful termination. The judge, Thomas Rice, ruled to remove $198 million in punitive damages, expressing that there was no concrete evidence of misconduct by UPS supervisors.
The current award of $39.6 million compensates for emotional distress. Gratton’s allegations against UPS include racial discrimination in work conditions and route assignments compared to white workers. Gratton further stated that these actions led to his dismissal after he reported inappropriate conduct at the workplace. Meanwhile, UPS is poised for a legal contest through retrial efforts.
Gratton’s Allegations and UPS’s Response
Tahvio Gratton, the complainant, accused UPS of perpetuating racial discrimination, which allegedly influenced his job performance and resulted in unjust dismissal. Allegations include being assigned less desirable routes and being treated with disrespect by a younger white supervisor who referred to him as “boy.” Gratton describes it as a consistent practice within the organization, which amounted to him being denied his rights as an employee of color.
UPS, on the other hand, denies these allegations and contends they are devoid of substantive backing. UPS is actively pursuing a new trial, aiming to overturn the existing partial verdict that aligns in Gratton’s favor. The legal battle continues in the U.S. District Court, with UPS asserting its defense on the legitimacy and fairness of its corporate policies towards employees.
Federal Court Case Details
The legal proceedings encapsulated in the matter, Gratton v United Parcel Service Inc, continue to unravel within the Eastern District of Washington. The judge’s decision to reduce the compensation figure centers on the lack of evidence pointing towards malintent by UPS in terminating Gratton. This significant reduction is a matter of legal and corporate interest as UPS aims for more profound vindication through appeal processes.
As the case proceeds, interested observers await UPS’s next steps in their pursuit of justice and the legal implications for similar corporate-level cases examining racial bias and discrimination in the workplace.
Sources:
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Judge slashes black UPS driver’s bias verdict by nearly $200M, ruling jurors acted unreasonably
