Jury Awards $240 Million to Mentally Disabled and Abused Workers in a Turkey Plant in Iowa

The members of the jury who heard the case filed against Henry’s Turkey Services, a turkey processing plant, awarded the thirty-two male workers a total of $240 million be divided equally among themMentally disabled and abused workers concerned. All the workers have mental disability. The court proceedings determined that they were physically abused for decades and were “virtually enslaved” while employed at said processing plant. Given all the testimonies and evidences that were collated and then presented the jury it was eventually declared that Henry’s Turkey Services undoubtedly violated the Disabilities Act.

The United States government had always been strict and firm when it comes to worker abuse and disability issues. One of the leading agencies in the US that is fighting against these cruel and inhumane practices is the EEOC or “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.” This Commission is instrumental in the legal victory achieved by the plaintiff.

Wrongdoings of Henry’s Turkey Services

Robert Canino, EEOC’s attorney led the filing of a lawsuit against Henry’s Turkey Services, a service oriented turkey processing company housing workers with disability in a warehouse in Iowa. Reports were forwarded to the local authority when the family of a worker reported a number of mistreatment being committed.

An expert declared that the workers were overworked and maltreated to the point of enslavement and were only receiving $65 of compensation per month.

Horrible working conditions

The reports also revealed facts on how the abuses were done. According to testimonies and factual evidences, the company being sued had an unsightly work area that made working conditions horrible. Iowa inspectors also concluded that the building being used to house the workers was infested with rodents, not to mention it was already in a hazardous state and might eventually fall apart at any given moment. They also declared that the building was full of fire hazards making it unfit for anyone to live in.

Unpaid penalties by Henry

After the deliberation of the case filed against Henry’s Turkey Services and the instruction to pay the penalties to the workers, reports have coming out that the company has not yet fulfilled its responsibilities even though the verdict was already passed. The victims of abuse and maltreatment are still awaiting the compensation assigned by the court.

Kenneth Henry, a 72-year old male living in Texas is the President of the Henry’s Turkey Services. Mr. Henry recently made a statement that was printed on the newspapers. He said that he had no idea with regard to any of the accusations concerning the conditions assailing the disabled workers in their Atalissa bunkhouse. He also denied the allegations pertaining to one of his supervisors who reportedly abused the workers according to certain testimonies.

According to Henry, they are always keeping a watchful eye on their employees and no maltreatment came into his knowledge at any point in time in his career. The only unfortunate event that he could cite in relation to his company’s Iowa bunkhouse was that a worker who was housed there froze to death sometime in the 1980’s.