A federal court jury awarded a former FedEx paralegal $173,000 in her lawsuit claiming the company violated the Family Medical Leave Act.

A three-day trial before Magistrate Judge Diane Vescovo ended Wednesday with a verdict in favor of plaintiff Tina C. Wallace.

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Wallace, who worked in the legal department for 14 of her 21 years with FedEx, was terminated after taking medical leave in 2007.

Her lawyer, James R. Becker Jr., said the trial showed Wallace’s supervisors hadn’t followed the letter of FMLA law in handling her case.

FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey said, “With all due respect to the jury, we disagree with this decision, and we are reviewing our options in this matter.”

McCluskey said, “The health and well-being of team members is a priority for FedEx, and the company follows all requirements of the Family Medical Leave Act and other employment laws.”

Becker said the FMLA puts the burden on employers to follow specific steps in granting and verifying medical leave.

Becker contended Wallace wasn’t properly informed she could be fired if she didn’t furnish FedEx with timely verification of the reason for her leave.

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