Go Daddy ordered to pay ex-employee $390,000
Youssef Bouamama, a Moroccan employee of Go Daddy, won an impressive victory in a case before the U.S. District Court in Arizona, the Arizona Republic Reports:
The jury said Go Daddy must pay Bouamama $250,000 in punitive damages, $135,000 in back pay and $5,000 for emotional pain and suffering.
While the award for emotional pain and suffering is minimal, the jury made a clear statement about the wrongfulness of the company's conduct in retaliating against Mr. Bouamama after he complained that he had been discriminated against because of his religion and national origin. The jury did not find that there was discrimination based on religion or national origin, the paper reports, but in general it is easier to prove a case of retaliation under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 than it is to prove discrimination. In addition, the fact that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought this case, rather than Mr. Bouamama on his own, suggests that maybe the government will take a stand against discrimination and retaliation toward Muslims and Arabs in this country.