Managing Partner Helps Former Corrections Worker Wins Millions After Termination Linked to Testimony

A jury sided with a plaintiff in his case against the Missouri Department of Corrections, alleging that he was terminated in response for giving testimony against his department at trial.

The Jackson County jury awarded plaintiff Danny Petifurd $3.8 million on April 19, 2024. Petifurd had been employed at the Kansas City Reentry Center as a maintenance supervisor from 2013 until October 2019, when he was terminated.

Petifurd claimed in his suit his dismissal was in retaliation to testimony he gave against the department during a trial in a separate case against it. Petifurd testified during trial in that case on Oct. 10, 2019, and was terminated 15 days later.

The defendants claimed Petifurd was terminated because he admitted he perjured himself in a deposition in another case in 2018.

The plaintiff’s attorneys, Eric Playter of Playter Trial Lawyers in Kansas City and Brianne Thomas Managing Partner for Boyd Kenter Thomas & Parrish, said their client was satisfied that he received “vindication for essentially getting fired for telling the truth.”

Amount of verdict, judgment or settlement: $3.8 million