Cooley v. Tyson Foods, Inc.

In this appeal we consider whether a discharged employee presented sufficient evidence to support a jury’s finding that he was fired by his former employer because he had intended to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Walter C. Cooley filed a motion for judgment against Tyson Foods, Inc., and its personnel manager, Leonard Parks. Cooley, relying upon Code § 65.2-308 * , alleged that he was terminated solely because he intended to file a claim under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act. Cooley nonsuited his claim against Parks and at a trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Cooley in…