Utah’s Westminster told to pay nearly $600K for flawed firing

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) William Tracy Fowler in his home in Salt Lake City with a stack of legal papers related to his disability lawsuit against Westminster College. A federal court has awarded Fowler damages, ruling the college violated the American With Disabilities Act through a series of actions it took against Fowler following his drug rehab. Fowler had been addicted to pain pills he took for a back condition.

Courts Westminster to appeal finding that it acted unlawfully.

Firing a recovering prescription drug addict will cost Westminster College nearly $600,000, after a federal judge concluded the private Salt Lake City school acted unlawfully toward its longtime mailroom supervisor.

In May, a federal jury decided William Tracy Fowler, who had become hooked on prescription medications following back surgery, was entitled to protection under the American With Disabilities Act. The 1990 law prohibits employers from discriminating against workers on the basis of a disability.

Dispose of prescription drugs Saturday

Across Utah, disposal sites will accept expired or unneeded prescription drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, the 5th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Law enforcement personnel and prevention specialists will be available to answer questions and talk about concerns. Utahns can find a disposal site by going to http://www.useonlyasdirected.org or calling toll-free 1-800-456-7707.

A new public service announcement is promoting the event. In Utah, more deaths are caused by prescription drug abuse than by automobile accidents.

By safely disposing your expired prescription drugs this Saturday, you and your family can help fight drug abuse in Utah, Gov. Gary R. Herbert said in a statement.

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Utah’s Westminster told to pay nearly $600K for flawed firing