Envoy Air hit with $675,000 verdict over airport worker’s firing

When she returned, everything shifted. Her station manager – previously friendly, full of morning greetings – turned cold. The manager “seemed agitated,” stopped speaking to her, and sometimes walked right past, the worker testified. The lifting help Envoy had promised did not consistently come. 

On December 3, the worker said she was still not getting help. The manager asked whether Envoy was still “a good fit.” When the worker said she wanted to stay, the manager said she would “find a way to get rid of” her, according to the testimony. 

That same week a disputed doctor’s note surfaced. Two versions existed – the original with computer-generated marks, and an altered copy with handwritten additions. Each side blamed the other. The manager never raised the note during that conversation – despite having allegedly received it days earlier. 

By December 28 the worker was suspended. On January 7, 2019, she was fired for “falsification of documentation.” 

On appeal, the central question was who decided to fire her. Envoy pointed to an HR representative in Texas. But its own discovery responses stated “the plaintiff was terminated by” the station manager. Only she signed the termination letter. Envoy’s job description for HR staff said they “provide counsel and recommendations” – not final decisions.