Wyandotte County jury awards $917K in KGS lawsuit

A Wyandotte County jury has awarded four former Kansas Gas Service employees more than $900,000 after deciding they were discriminated against based on age when they were fired for sharing emailed porn.

The Kansas City Star reports the case began when KGS discovered pornographic materials had been shared in the company email system. Ten workers were fired among 52 employees who received the emailed obscene materials.

The four men, all older than 40, said they were disciplined more harshly than others who received the emailed porn. The jury said the four men received unequal enforcement of discipline for a first offense. The $917,035 award was for lost income and emotional distress.

A Kansas Gas Service spokeswoman says the utility’s “disappointed in the verdict” and evaluating what to do next.