Fired janitor awarded $650K in case against Bellevue businessman

SEATTLE — A Bellevue businessman has been ordered to pay his former employee $650,000 over allegations that he told the janitor to learn English or lose his job.

The Seattle Times reported Yordan Petrov, of Bulgaria, sued James D. Hebert and his wife, former King County Councilwoman Cynthia Sullivan, for discrimination, retaliation and withheld wages.

Petrov alleges he was fired from Hebert Research after being ordered to take an English class, although he had been working for the company for five years without complaint.

The judgment includes $300,000 for state and federal retaliation claims, and $350,000 in punitive damages against Hebert and his company. The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on Petrov’s discrimination claims.

Hebert has asked the court to reconsider the judgment and has indicated he plans to appeal.

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