The Los Angeles Times is on the hook for a $15.4 million jury award for demoting an olderworker.Former LA Times sports columnist T.J. Simers sued the paper in October 2013 after thepaper first reduced and then eliminated his column. The paper argued that Simers’ workquality declined after he developed migraines.Simers pointed to the onset of the migraines as the beginning of a change in hisresponsibilities. And he said, he faced increased criticism from managers who hadpreviously praised his work.He quit, claiming intolerable working conditions and age discrimination and sued the paperand its then-owner Tribune Publishing.

A jury awarded Simers $7.1 million in economic andnon-economic damages in 2015, but the judge in the trial later voided much of the originaljudgment.Simers and Tribune Publishing both appealed the decision.In January 2018, an appeals court tossed the intolerable working conditions claim. But, thecourt said, a jury should reconsider whether Simers was the victim of age and disabilitydiscrimination.This time the jury awarded Simers $15.4 million for personal and emotional suffering causedby the paper’s treatment of the writer after his health problems started.Tribune Publishing could still appeal the latest decision. However, if it stands, the companycould be looking at a $22 million bill after interest is included, according to Simers’ lawyer.

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