Detroit Settles Perfume Allergy Case for $100,000

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Detroit Settles Perfume Allergy Case for $100,000

_http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Detroit_Settles_Perfume_Allergy

_Case_for_100000_Dollars_100309_

(http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Detroit_Settles_Perfume_Allergy_Cas\

e_for_100000_Dollars_100309)

 

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

 

 

Susan McBride, a civil servant in Detroit, won a $100,000 _settlement_

(http://www.onpointnews.com/docs/mcbride_settlement.pdf) from the city after

officials failed to accommodate her allergy to perfume. McBride complained

to superiors about a coworker’s perfume, claiming the smell made it

difficult for her to breath. When managers did nothing to address the

situation,

McBride sued under the _Americans with Disabilities Act_

(http://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm) and won.

 

 

In addition to paying the hundred grand, the city, as part of the

settlement, will post signs asking employees to refrain from wearing “scented

products, including but not limited to colognes, after-shave lotions, perfumes,

deodorants, body/face lotions, hair sprays or similar products.â€

 

 

In 2005, Detroit was the site for a private lawsuit between a DJ, Erin

Weber, and a local radio station involving perfume. As in the McBride case,

Weber complained about a coworker’s perfume, got no relief, then sued and

won—

a $10.6 million verdict. The award was later knocked down to $814,000.

 

 

Actual settlement:

 

_http://www.onpointnews.com/docs/mcbride_settlement.pdf_

(http://www.onpointnews.com/docs/mcbride_settlement.pdf)

 

 

 

_Scents Alive! Perfume Allergy Case Settles for $100,000_

(http://www.onpointnews.com/NEWS/Scents-Alive-Perfume-Allergy-Case-Settles-for-$\

100K.html)

(by Matthew Heller, On Point News)

 

_Susan McBride v. City of Detroit_

(http://www.onpointnews.com/docs/mcbride_settlement.pdf) (U.S. District Court,

Eastern Michigan) (pdf)