ST. LOUIS – Late Friday afternoon, a 12-person St. Louis County jury delivered a $1,156,600 verdict to a former employee of Automated Health Systems, Inc. (AHS), a Missouri state Medicaid Contractor. The jury found that AHS violated the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) by discriminating against the plaintiff on the basis of perceived mental disability and retaliating against her after she opposed and reported discriminatory practices in the workplace
The plaintiff, a former training manager at AHS, alleged that in 2022, she was constructively discharged following a series of discriminatory and retaliatory actions. These included being forced to speak to a suicide hotline, enduring the humiliation of police intervention, being subjected to an unjustified 11-day suspension, reassignment of job duties, and being set up to fail at her job.
Her legal team—led by Cyrus Dashtaki and MG Warren of Dashtaki Law Firm, LLC, along with co-counsel Mark Buchanan and Nimrod Chapel—argued that AHS’s actions created a hostile work environment and violated the MHRA’s protections against disability discrimination and retaliation.
“Expressing frustration and burnout at work is a common human experience. To stereotype someone as having a mental disability because of it is both wrong and illegal,” said Cyrus Dashtaki, lead counsel for the plaintiff. “The stigma surrounding mental health issues is real, and this case highlights the harm caused by that discrimination. This jury heard the facts, saw the mistreatment my client endured, and sent a clear message: discrimination and retaliation have no place in St. Louis County.”
Dashtaki continued: “This verdict reflects the values of our St. Louis community—fairness, dignity, and accountability. It sends a clear message that employers, whether public or private, will be held responsible when they violate those principles. I’m proud of this jury for standing up for what’s right.”
Cyrus Dashtaki also commended his legal team, including Warren, Chapel, and Buchanan for their commitment and tireless advocacy.
Dashtaki Law Firm, LLC is committed to seeking relief for employees who are harmed by discrimination on the basis of disability and retaliation for exercising their rights under Missouri law. Dashtaki Law Firm, LLC exclusively represents employees standing up against employment discrimination based on age, race, sex, religion, national origin, or disability.
###