A Cole County jury early Saturday morning found in favor of a former state employee of the Missouri House in a civil lawsuit over disability discrimination and unlawful retaliation.
The jury had heard testimony throughout the week over the lawsuit filed by Eric Qualls in 2018. Cole County Presiding Judge Cotton Walker, who presided over the trial, said the jury got the case around 5 p.m. Friday and deliberated until around 10 p.m. and then had to deliberate more as far as the penalty phase. It was not until after 1 a.m. all jury and court staff left the courthouse Saturday morning.
The jury found the state had failed to accommodate for disability, committed unlawful discharge based on disability and two counts of unlawful discriminatory practices.
Qualls was fired in 2017 after he said he requested workplace accommodations related to his disability and reported discriminatory treatment. The lawsuit claimed Adam Crumbliss, the former chief clerk of the House, became upset in a meeting when Qualls said he would contact the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR); Crumbliss fired him just minutes later. Qualls said the retaliatory discharge was in violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act and the House of Representatives' policies.
Qualls' job included analyzing and summarizing legislative proposals, drafting legislation, assisting members of the House and error checking bills.
Prior to his employment, Qualls was diagnosed with a medical disability that, according to his lawsuit, limits his activities including his sleep, concentrating, thinking and interaction with others.
In February 2017, while meeting with supervisors, Qualls' work ethic was questioned, although no concerns about his job performance were filed against him. It was after this meeting Qualls said he filed a grievance over reasonable accommodations due to his disability.
In March 2017, House officials set up a meeting with Qualls to discuss his request, which included a quieter area to work in and being able to work for home some days. Crumbliss was among those at the meeting, according to the lawsuit. Qualls said Crumbliss denied that his employment was being threatened. Shortly after this, though, Qualls said he was fired.