CINCINNATI, OHIO — A Cincinnati jury awarded $22.5 million to former Total Quality Logistics employee Chelsea Walsh in a wrongful-death lawsuit after the Ohio-based company initially denied her work-from-home request during her high-risk pregnancy. The jury ruled in favor of Walsh in the case that alleged the company's refusal led to the death of her daughter.

On February 15, 2021, Walsh requested to work from home from Total Quality Logistics, according to court filings. Four days before making her request, Walsh had undergone an operation on her cervix to prevent early labor. The company initially refused Walsh's work-from-home request during her high-risk pregnancy, according to court filings.

Walsh returned to the office on February 22, 2021, according to court filings. On the evening of February 24, 2021, Walsh gave birth to a daughter she named Magnolia. Walsh was between four and five months pregnant at the time she gave birth, according to court filings.

Magnolia had a heartbeat, was breathing, and exhibited fetal movement when she was born, according to court filings. Magnolia died in Walsh's arms approximately one hour and thirty minutes after she was placed on Walsh's chest. On the same evening Walsh gave birth, a Total Quality Logistics manager informed her that the company had reversed its decision and would allow her to work from home, according to court filings.

Joel Walsh, Chelsea Walsh's husband, spoke to his company's human resources manager about his wife's situation, according to court filings. The human resources manager, who is a friend of a top executive at Total Quality Logistics, notified that executive about Chelsea Walsh's situation, according to court filings.

"The evidence showed that Chelsea Walsh was following her doctors' instructions for a high-risk pregnancy and simply asked to work from home. The jury found that TQL's denial of that reasonable request led to the death of her daughter," said Matthew C. Metzger, an attorney.

"This is a heartbreaking outcome for a young family," Metzger said.

Court filings stated that the company presented Walsh with an impossible choice — work at the office and put additional strain on her child, or take an unpaid leave of absence and lose the income and health insurance she needed.

"We disagree with the verdict and the way the facts were characterized at trial," said Julia Daugherty, a spokesperson for Total Quality Logistics. "We are evaluating legal options and remain committed to supporting the health and well-being of our employees."