AutoZone Gets Punitives Nixed in Male’s Harassment Suit (1)

AutoZoners LLC convinced the Fourth Circuit on Monday to throw out a $260,000 punitive damages award leveled against the vehicle parts retail giant in a lawsuit in which a male worker said his repeated sexual harassment complaints against a female colleague were ignored.

Keith Ward, who was hired as a part-time employee in 2012, said he was subjected to ongoing harassment and groping by fellow employee Christina Atkinson. A jury awarded Ward $100,000 in compensatory damages and $600,000 in punitive damages for his Title VII sexual harassment claim. It also awarded him $150,000 in compensatory damages and $60,000 in punitive ...