32 former Henry's Turkey workers will receive $3.4 million

A Texas company will pay $3.4 million to 32 mentally disabled workers at Henry's Turkey Service, according to final judgement filed filed Tuesday in federal court.

The workers will receive more than $1.3 million in back pay based on a partial summary judgment filed in Sept. 18, 2012, and $1.6 million in damages based on previous judgment entered May 14, combined with total interest of $421,000, according to the federal judgment entered by U.S. District Senior Judge Charles R. Wolle in Davenport.

Each worker will receive about $106,000 from Henry's Turkey Service of Goldthwaite, Texas, according to court ruling.

Wolle also ordered Henry's to pay $10,487 to the EEOC, who represented the men in court.

A jury's landmark award of $240 million to the workers was slashed to $1.6 million last month because, under federal law, damages can be capped based on the number of employees affected in this claim.

A federal jury found the company created an unlawful hostile environment for the men and discriminated against them on the basis of their disability. The verdict and award followed a week long trial in Davenport.

According to the lawsuit filed by the EEOC against Hill Country Farms, workers at the West Liberty plant were hit and kicked by Hill Country employees, called names, denied bathroom breaks and restrained or confined to rooms. Injuries and complaints of pain or requests for doctor's visits were ignored.