On Dec. 17, 2010, an employee who was fired after a manager at El Paso Electric Co. threatened to kill him was awarded $5.8 million on his discrimination claim. In 2007, Mark Duncan, a benefits supervisor, was fired two days after the company’s human resources manager threatened him. Duncan, who is white, claimed the company feared the manager, who is Hispanic, would file a discrimination suit if fired, so the company fired both of them. Duncan maintained that when he asked what he specifically did wrong, the vice president refused to provide details. The jury awarded $5 million in punitive damages.
Duncan v. El Paso Electric Co., No. 2008-4083
