Detroit Settles Perfume Allergy Case for $100,000

[The Straight Story]

Detroit Settles Perfume Allergy Case for $100,000
Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Susan McBride, a civil servant in Detroit, won a $100,000 settlement from the city after officials failed to accommodate her allergy to perfume. McBride complained to superiors about a coworker’s perfume, claiming the smell made it difficult for her to breath. When managers did nothing to address the situation, McBride sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act and won.

In addition to paying the hundred grand, the city, as part of the settlement, will post signs asking employees to refrain from wearing “scented products, including but not limited to colognes, after-shave lotions, perfumes, deodorants, body/face lotions, hair sprays or similar products.”

In 2005, Detroit was the site for a private lawsuit between a DJ, Erin Weber, and a local radio station involving perfume. As in the McBride case, Weber complained about a coworker’s perfume, got no relief, then sued and won—a $10.6 million verdict. The award was later knocked down to $814,000.

http://www.allgov.com/Unusual_News/ViewNews/Detroit_Settles_Perfume_Allergy_Case_for_100000_Dollars_100309

[Lance_Boyle]

1. If allergies (real or imagined) are now covered under the ADA

something is very wrong. Can people allergic to pollen demand that their employers provide filtered cleanrooms for them to work in? Can those nutjobs who claim "allergies" to wifi demand Faraday cages, or removal of all non-ionizing radiation sources from the workplace? This is pure nucking FUTZ!

[catgirl]

2. These "nutjobs" are allergic to the chemicals

or synthetic fragrances. Many of these chemicals are banned in Europe and elsewhere. A simple
solution would be to ban the sythetic chemicals used in these products. Not only do they cause
breathing problems, including asthma attacks, they also cause serious skin problems as they
are absorbed through the pores.

If you think chemicals are harmless and can be compared to pollen, then you need to do some
research.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. No they're not.

They're making shit up.

[The Straight Story]

12. There are perfume allergies, unless you have peer reviewed studies that say otherwise:

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=allergic+to+perfume&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=allergic+to+per&fp=35897877ebb6f45

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. lulz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_chemical_sensitivity

MCS is a controversial diagnosis and is not recognised as an organic, chemical-caused illness by the American Medical Association.<2> Blinded trials have shown that MCS patients react as often and as strongly to the exposure to the chemicals they say harm them and to placebos, including clean air.<3> This has led some to believe that MCS symptoms are due to odor hypersensitivity<4> or are mainly psychological.<2>

[The Straight Story]

16. Heh - remember that next time someone uses Wikipedia as a source arguing with you(nt)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. I have no problem with wikipedia at all.

Particularly when it's backed up with references in peer-reviewed articles as this one is.

[catgirl]

18. Tell me that when you get sick n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. OK.

As soon as I start getting hysterical and paranoid and become a hypochondriac, I'll let you know.

[catgirl]

26. You're clueless n/t

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. Says the woo woo.

[Lance_Boyle]

19. not big on the reading comprehension, eh?

the only nutjobs I mentioned were the "wifi allergy" nutjobs, and there's not much argument that they are, indeed, wackaloonpants-insane nutjobs. But my larger point remains re: accommodation of allergies (real or imagined) under the ADA. Huge can o' worms.

[catgirl]

22. It was implied. And you have the reading problem, not me

The person in the article gets physically ill from the perfume/fragrance. If you disagree
with me, fine. You don't have to be insulting though. I guess hiding behind a computer
screen empowers you to be rude to people.

[Lance_Boyle]

28. YOU'RE telling ME what a sentence I wrote implied?

Well, aren't you just... a piece of work.

Good luck with that "understanding English" thing. :eyes:

[mod mom]

20. I'm one of those nutjobs that has a sensitivity to chemical smells. I get severe

what seem like migraine headaches from many petrochemical based products.

[SoCalDem]

30. I predict a whole new rash of suits..

"My co-worker has B.O. & it makes it hard to breathe.. Give me $100K plus & I'll be ok with it".

[laughingliberal]

31. Actually, perfumes are more irritants than allergens. Just like cigarette smoke

People are fond of saying they are allergic to smoke but smoke contains no protein and, therefore, can not trigger an 'allergy.'

That said, both perfumes, colognes, cleaning fluids, and many other substances are irritants and can trigger airway reactions and some can be serious.

[petronius]

33. I think a fair number of these 'unusual' conditions are self-diagnosed,

but that doesn't mean they don't exist. If she had medical backing for her allergy, then she should have gotten relief before needing to sue...

[DesertFlower]

3. i suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities.

when i worked my manager asked employees not wear perfume, hairspray, etc. she also bought a negative ionizer for the office and installed a filter on the tap water. she had building maintenance come and clean everything thoroughly.

[DJ13]

4. Maybe people wearing perfume should have to stay outside

like smokers?

[DesertFlower]

10. maybe they should. nt

[NeedleCast]

11. As a 'Murkin

You have a Gawd given RIGHT to not see, hear or smell anything that offends you. Ever.

If something you see, hear or smell does offend you, you should sue someone immediatly.


(sarcasm.jpg)

[DJ13]

13. !

:patriot:

:thumbsup:

[tammywammy]

5. At my previous job

The lady that sat in the cube next to me, seriously must have worn 1/2 a bottle of this crappy flowery/baby powder smelling "perfume" every day. I had to hold my breath when I walked by. It was horrible. My boss and the owner knew it too, yet never did anything. I wish they would have, it would even give me headaches. You could smell her from at least 20 feet away.

[Romulox]

6. They paid $9 million as consideration for an agreement to conceal the former mayor's perjury.

So a hunny-k for some perfume is just walkin' around money!

[Bryn]

7. I generally am not allergic to perfume, but there are some

that can set me off. I think maybe because of bad chemical stuff they put in that's cheaper now, but sells for more? Like they stopped using sugar cane and started using man-made chemical like high fructose corn syrup because it's cheaper yet sells same as if it were made with sugar?

[NeedleCast]

9. Everyone Must Cater to Me

FFS, no wonder Detroit is broke.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. Her attorney will take 70K of it.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Ridiculous.

[pitohui]

24. it's too bad it takes a lawsuit to get thru to people

perfume should not be worn in a public place, period

it's amazing that it's 2010 and people still don't have the simple common courtesy to leave that crap at home

in addition to aggravating floral allergies/asthma, then it can also cause an immediate headache (that's my reaction to strong perfume) and even serious headaches like migraines ( we all know people who have that reaction)

if you think you smell bad, instead of perfume, FFS, take an extra shower in the morning or something, or see your doctor to find out where the bad smell is coming from -- there's often a medical reason

[Born_A_Truman]

25. Poison

The only perfume that ever caused me to get nauseous was Christian Dior's Poison. If I was in an elevator with someone wearing it I got sick at my stomach. Either people stopped wearing it or I have become immune because it doesn't happen any more.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

29. I am allergic to some perfumes.

I have asthma/allergies and I can wear some perfumes. I will sniff the button on the bottle first. If I'm allergic to it I get an instant headache.

I am allergic to most modern synthetic perfumes -- Chloe, Beautiful, anything by Estee Lauder, mostly.


I can wear Flower by Kenzo and Shalimar and Opium.


I understand why the lady sued.

[tallahasseedem]

32. Deodorants?

Oh please. Maybe she should wear a mask.