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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

General Electric

Giles v. General Electric (Disability Benefits)

Date: 03/19/2001 (Date of Final Appeal)

Misconduct Type: Labor

Enforcement Agency: Non-Governmental

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Civil

Amount: $591,947

Disposition: Judgment Against Defendant

Synopsis: “An ADA award of [$590,000] was… assessed against General Electric for its refusal to reasonably accommodate a machinist with a back injury. The machinist, who had injured his back on the job, was released to return to work following a functional capacity evaluation (“FCE”) with a lifting restriction of twenty pounds. The employer rejected the restriction, sending the machinist to another doctor, who recommended his return to work with a restriction of fifty-pounds. GE also rejected this accommodation, and refused to return the machinist to work. The machinist filed for long-term disability benefits, then sued under the ADA. A jury awarded $1.2 million in damages, which the district court reduced to $300,000 in accordance with the statutory cap on ADA damages. The machinist was also awarded $141,110 in front pay and $150,837 in attorney’s fees.”