Walmart ordered to pay $34.7 million in driver defamation case

Jesús Fonseca was injured while driving a Walmart truck, the company's response to the incident led to a $35 million compensation for the driver.

A historic verdict has changed the life of former Walmart truck driver Jesús “Jesse” Fonseca. A jury from San Bernardino County, California, has ordered the company to pay $34.7 million in damages after accusations of defamation and workplace discrimination against Fonseca. The driver, who worked at Walmart’s distribution center in Apple Valley, California, suffered a work injury in 2017 that forced him to request workplace adjustments due to medical restrictions. However, this request was denied.

In 2019, Fonseca filed a labor lawsuit claiming that Walmart rejected his requests for a job transfer, arguing that the company could not accommodate his injury with tasks other than his previous ones. Prior to the lawsuit, the company accused him of workers’ compensation fraud based on the observation that Fonseca was driving a personal vehicle while under restrictions not to drive. In 2018, the company fired him for “lack of integrity” and declared him ineligible for rehire.

Fonseca vs. Walmart: strong evidence

The dispute began in 2017 when Fonseca was in an accident while driving a semi-truck for Walmart and received a medical order restricting commercial driving and lifting heavy objects. In response, Walmart rejected his requests for workplace accommodation and accused him of fraud for driving a personal vehicle while injured. The conflict escalated when the company decided to fire Fonseca, severely affecting his future. After the dismissal, Fonseca faced significant difficulty finding employment due to the defamation Walmart had caused against him.

After the trial of the lawsuit filed by Fonseca, the jury found that Walmart acted unfairly by accusing Fonseca of fraud without solid evidence, which destroyed the driver’s reputation within the company. A verdict was reached, awarding $25 million in punitive damages and $9.7 million in actual damages, including lost wages and compensation for emotional distress.

David deRubertis, Fonseca’s lawyer, argued that Walmart’s accusations were part of a broader plan to pressure injured employees to return to work. He highlighted the immoral practices of some companies in their treatment of injured workers. Furthermore, the company acted disproportionately by bypassing usual disciplinary processes and firing Fonseca immediately without sufficient fraud evidence.

Million-dollar compensation: highlighting the need for worker rights protection

The compensation amount, which totals $35 million, far exceeds what a truck driver can earn at Walmart, with an average annual salary of around $56,000. This case has brought to light the need for companies like Walmart to review their internal policies, especially toward employees who, like truck drivers, are the backbone of their operations.

For its part, Walmart expressed disagreement with the verdict and stated that it would seek solutions, possibly appealing the decision. Nevertheless, this case emphasizes the importance of carefully handling accusations of fraud or dishonesty in the workplace.

The ruling has sparked reactions in the labor community, underscoring the growing importance of protecting workers’ rights in an environment where companies sometimes resort to drastic measures to avoid costs related to worker compensation. This case could set a precedent for future lawsuits against large corporations that treat their employees unjustly in similar situations.