Walmart Ordered to Pay $35 Million in Defamation Case Against Former Truck Driver

A California jury found Walmart falsely accused Jesus Fonseca of fraud and wrongfully terminated him following a workplace injury.

Jesus 'Jesse' Fonseca, a Walmart truck driver for 14 years, was awarded $34.7 million after a jury ruled Walmart defamed and wrongfully terminated him.
Fonseca was injured in 2017 during a work-related accident and filed a workers' compensation claim, which led to his medical leave and eventual termination.
Walmart accused Fonseca of fraud, citing surveillance of him driving a personal vehicle despite medical restrictions, though Fonseca maintained he only refrained from driving commercial vehicles.
The jury awarded $25 million in punitive damages and $9.7 million for emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life, citing Walmart's failure to accommodate Fonseca's disability and retaliatory actions.
Walmart plans to contest the verdict, calling it 'outrageous' and asserting the decision does not reflect the facts of the case.