Newborn dies after employer refuses mother’s remote work request, company ordered to pay Rs 210 crore

Walsh delivered a baby girl, who passed away a few hours later. (Image credit: Pexels)

• Ohio firm ordered to pay $22.5M after denying remote work request
• Newborn dies after mom worked in office while pregnant
• Jury finds company liable for wrongful death in risky case

Did our AI summary help?

An Ohio-based company has been directed to pay $22.5 million (roughly RS 210.8 crore) to a woman after refusing her request to work from home during a high-risk pregnancy, which resulted in the death of her newborn.

In February 2021, Chelsea Walsh was employed with Total Quality Logistics when the events occurred. Following a medical procedure during a complicated pregnancy, she asked for permission to work remotely on her doctor’s advice. According to WKRC, Total Quality Logistics refused her request.

A lawsuit reviewed by People magazine stated that Chelsea Walsh requested to work remotely on February 15, 2021. Her doctor had advised her to limit activities, stay on modified bed rest, and work from home.

The company told her to either continue working from the office or go on unpaid leave, which would mean losing her income and health coverage.

According to a press release from Wolterman Law Office, co-counsel for the family, “she was required to complete leave paperwork, return to the office immediately following the procedure, and was later placed on leave against her wishes. Her request to work from home through the start of her maternity leave was denied.”

Walsh resumed working from the office on February 22. She spent three days working from the office, against her doctor’s orders, before going into labour on the evening of February 24.

She resumed office work on February 22 and worked for three days against her doctor’s advice before going into labour on the evening of February 24.

On February 24, Walsh delivered a baby girl, who passed away a few hours later. Her company granted her remote work request only a few hours before labour.

The lawsuit stated that Magnolia had a heartbeat, was breathing, and showed movement after birth, yet died approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes later. She was born over 18 weeks premature.

Magnolia Walsh’s estate filed a wrongful death case against Total Quality Logistics, alleging that the company’s denial of remote work resulted in the baby’s death.

A Hamilton County, Ohio jury held Total Quality Logistics responsible for Magnolia’s death. “This is a heartbreaking outcome for a young family,” said Matthew C. Metzger of Wolterman Law Office. “The evidence showed that Chelsea Walsh was following her doctors’ instructions for a high-risk pregnancy and simply asked to work from home. The jury found that TQL’s denial of that reasonable request led to the death of her daughter.”

Initially, the jury granted $25 million in damages to the estate of Magnolia Walsh, but after assigning 90% of fault to Total Quality Logistics, the final award came to $22.5 million, which is roughly Rs 210.8 crore.