5th DCA Reinstates Verdict for Employee Traumatized by Staged Robbery

A Kern County employer's decision to fake an armed office robbery as a training exercise turned out to be a costly mistake. While it was unclear how much cash Kathy Lee dumped into the bag produced by the "robber" on July 29, 2011, her emotional distress from the staged crime is going to cost her employer $360,000. The 5th District Court of Appeals on Monday ruled that Kathy Lee was properly allowed to proceed with a tort action against the West Kern Water District. The court said the employer wasn't entitled to new trial because the trial judge hadn't committed an...