FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM)- Two former Washington County drug counselors have been awarded about $1.5 million after they were fired four years ago for false-positive drug tests.
A federal jury awarded $775,000 to Melissa Henderson and $770,000 to Dana Jones last week, according to documents from Tim Snively, who was the attorney for both counselors.
Both women had worked as drug counselors for the Washington/Madison County Drug Court where they were periodically tested by their employer. In April 2010, Henderson and Jones were given a drug test, which falsely showed they had tested positive for MDMA, or ecstacy. Both counselor denied they had taken the drug and were fired.
More than a year later, the lab and medical review companies that handled Henderson and Jones’ tests admitted there had been an error in coding the results.
Henderson and Jones sued claiming the mistake cost them wages, benefits and mental well-being. On Nov. 14, a jury for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas ruled the responsibility for the error rested with North Caroline-based GlobalLab Solutions and Dr. Tyler Freeman, who worked for the company.
