Carter v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

**What Happened** Carter sued Winn-Dixie Stores for wrongful termination and was awarded $25,000 in damages. After the trial, Winn-Dixie asked for a new trial, claiming they had newly discovered evidence that Carter had recovered from injuries he said were permanent. The company wanted the court to order a physical examination of Carter to prove he wasn't as injured as he claimed during the original trial. **What the Court Decided** The court appears to have denied Winn-Dixie's request for a new trial. However, at least one judge disagreed with this decision. In a dissenting opinion, this judge argued that the trial judge made a mistake by not ordering Carter to undergo a physical examination to verify his current condition. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that employment lawsuits don't always end when a worker wins. Employers may try to challenge jury awards by claiming new evidence exists. Workers who win cases involving injury claims should be prepared for potential follow-up requests for medical examinations, especially if their recovery appears better than expected. The case also demonstrates that courts take seriously any allegations that a party may have misrepresented their condition during trial.