Walmart Ordered to Pay $34 Million in Truck Driver Defamation Case

A Southern California truck driver, Jesus Fonseca, was awarded $34 million after a jury found Walmart falsely accused him of workers' compensation fraud and fired him while he was on medical leave. Fonseca, who worked for Walmart for over 14 years, was injured in an accident and placed on medical leave with work restrictions. Despite his requests for modified duties, Walmart failed to accommodate him and later accused him of fraud based on a misinterpretation of his medical restrictions. Fonseca sued for disability discrimination and wrongful termination, and the jury ruled in his favor, awarding him $25 million in punitive damages and $9.7 million for losses. Walmart plans to challenge the verdict.