Ohio Firm Ordered to Pay $22.5 Million After Denying Work-from-Home Request Led to Baby’s Death A Columbus-based logistics company, Total Quality Logistics (TQL), has been ordered to pay $22.5 million in damages to Chelsea Walsh, a mother whose newborn daughter died shortly after she was denied a work-from-home arrangement during a high-risk pregnancy. The verdict, delivered in a wrongful death case, came after a jury found that TQL’s refusal to accommodate Walsh’s request contributed to the tragic outcome. Walsh, who was four to five months pregnant at the time, initially asked TQL to allow her to work remotely in February 2021. The request came after she underwent a medical procedure to prevent preterm labor. According to her lawsuit, the company rejected her request, forcing her into an “impossible choice” between returning to the office and risking her child’s health or taking unpaid leave and losing her income and health insurance. Despite her doctor’s advice to avoid stress, Walsh returned to the workplace on February 22, 2021. On the evening of February 24, 2021, Walsh gave birth to her daughter, Magnolia, while still at work. The same day, her manager informed her that TQL had “reconsidered” its decision and allowed her to work from home. However, Magnolia died in Walsh’s arms approximately 90 minutes after birth. The lawsuit states that the infant had a heartbeat, was breathing, and showed fetal movement before passing away. The jury ruled in Walsh’s favor, concluding that TQL’s denial of her reasonable accommodation for a high-risk pregnancy directly led to the child’s death. “The evidence showed that Chelsea Walsh was following her doctors’ instructions for a high-risk pregnancy and simply asked to work from home,” said her lawyer, Matthew C. Metzger.#total_quality_logistics #chelsea_walsh #magnolia #matthew_c_metzger #julia_daugherty
