Jury Awards $1.1 Million to Dismissed Upper Iowa U. Employee

A jury this week concluded that Upper Iowa University had improperly dismissed a former employee in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act, and awarded her $1.1 million in back pay and damages, The Courier of Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Iowa, reported. Lynne Seabrook was an assistant registrar of international programs at the time Upper Iowa fired her in 2009, and she alleged that the university had not provided accommodations after she was diagnosed with depression and other conditions. Upper Iowa officials said that Seabrook had never formally requested accommodations, and said they were likely to appeal, the newspaper reported.