Home / Crime and Justice / County Owed $333K for Service Dog Discrimination
County Owed $333K for Service Dog Discrimination
3 Sep
Summary
- Former worker awarded $333,349.08 in back pay and damages.
- County officials allegedly questioned need for service animal.
- Trial highlighted issues with county's handling of accommodation request.
A former Putnam County maintenance technician, Jason Vaden, was awarded $333,349.08 in back pay and damages following a four-day jury trial. Vaden sued the county for discrimination after he was not permitted to return to his job with his service dog, Gabe. Vaden, diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety, had worked for the county for eight years before receiving Gabe in December 2023.
Court filings indicated that Putnam County subjected Vaden to a series of meetings and medical visits after he informed them about receiving a service dog. The lawsuit alleged these proceedings were belittling and invasive. Vaden was never allowed to bring Gabe to work, and county officials reportedly questioned his need for the animal and his job capabilities.
Vaden was placed on indefinite paid leave in January 2024, later moving to unpaid leave under FMLA. By December 2024, his job was posted online, though he was not formally terminated. His legal team stated the verdict demonstrates that retaliation against disabled workers has significant repercussions.
