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Ohio Jury Orders TQL to Pay $22.5 Million Over Newborn's Death After Denied Remote Work

TQL says it disagrees with the verdict, with legal options under review.

Overview

  • Hamilton County jurors found Total Quality Logistics largely liable in a wrongful-death case linked to a high-risk pregnancy.
  • Chelsea Walsh requested to work from home on Feb. 15, 2021 after a cervical procedure, but was told to return to the office or take unpaid leave.
  • She worked in the office from Feb. 22 to Feb. 24 against medical advice; the company approved remote work hours before she went into labor, and her daughter, Magnolia, died about 90 minutes after birth at around 21 weeks.
  • The jury initially awarded $25 million and assigned 90% of the fault to TQL, resulting in a $22.5 million judgment.
  • Court filings say a call from Walsh’s husband to an HR contact tied to a TQL executive preceded the late approval, with the executive allegedly responding, "You just saved us a lawsuit."