And finally… You gotta fight for your right (not) to party

An employee has been awarded $450,000 in damages after his employer organised an unwanted surprise birthday party for him.

Kentucky man Kevin Berling was fired over his response to the party, which was standard for employees but which he had explicitly told managers he did not want, WKRC-TV reports.

Tony Bucher, his attorney, said: “They started giving him a pretty hard time for his response to the birthday celebration, actually accusing him of stealing his co-workers’ joy.”

Mr Berling told the court that the birthday party and a subsequent meeting with his bosses had triggered a panic attack. He said his workplace should have accepted his request as a reasonable accommodation.

A jury awarded him $300,000 for emotional distress and $150,000 in lost wages.

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