A Westminster man who said his bosses at a car dealership slashed his pay and emotionally abused him as he underwent chemotherapy for skin cancer was awarded $2.75 million Friday by a federal jury.
William Mower, 58, was “emotional and relieved” by the verdict, said his lawyer, Kathleen Chaney. Darin Mackender, who represented the dealership, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.
Mower was finance director of Century I Chevrolet, a Broomfield dealership, in 2000 and 2001 as he underwent treatment for melanoma, Chaney said.
Mower took some time off for medical treatment and when he returned, he was forced to give up sales commissions and instead got a flat salary of $8,500 a month, significantly less than the $14,000 a month he had previously earned, Chaney said.
She said he endured name-calling and attempts to force him to leave, which he did in 2001.
The jury awarded $1.45 million in actual damages and $1.3 million in punitive damages, an amount likely to be reduced because of Colorado’s punitive-damages cap.
Staff writer Alicia Caldwell can be reached at 303-820-1930 or acaldwell@denverpost.com.
