Thermo Fisher Unit Can’t Undo Executive’s $24 Million Bias Win

Clinical research company PPD Development LP must pay an executive more than $24 million for discriminating against her after she sought help for public speaking and social interaction issues, the First Circuit affirmed.

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. subsidiary was wrong that the trial evidence didn’t show it acted with reckless indifference to the former employee’s right to be free from disability bias in the workplace, a two-judge panel said in rejecting a challenge to a jury’s $10 million punitive damages award. The panel cited the “puzzling testimony” of a human resources executive director.

That testimony supported that the company ...