Birthday Party Firing Cost $450,000

In August 2019, a Kentucky man named Kevin Berling suffered a panic attack and left his own surprise office birthday party after his employer, Gravity Diagnostics, held it despite his request. He had warned the Covington medical laboratory that being the center of attention could trigger his anxiety disorder, but its office manager forgot. His managers confronted him the next day, triggering another panic attack, and later fired him after interpreting his behavior as angry and potentially violent. Berling sued for disability discrimination and retaliation, and a Kentucky jury awarded him $450,000 in 2022, including $300,000 for emotional distress and $150,000 for lost wages and benefits.

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