A jury found the Society for Human Resource Management liable for mishandling a job applicant's request to bring her diabetes-alert service dog to work. Torres brought claims under both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to Business Insider, the plaintiff, Fiona Torres, alleged that SHRM offered her a senior specialist role in its product management department in June 2024, then revoked that offer the following month after she asked to bring her medical service dog to work. Torres, who is diabetic, said her dog could detect changes in her blood-sugar levels faster and more reliably than a top-tier glucose monitor. The trial took place in Alexandria.
SHRM Says It Offered Other Accommodations
SHRM disputes the verdict and says it proposed alternatives rather than denying Torres a path to accommodation. In a statement, the organization said it extended Torres a conditional offer of employment with full knowledge of her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and per a court filing from January, it said it offered her use of her continuous glucose monitoring system and insulin pump at work, breaks as needed to check her blood sugar, and the ability to eat or drink near her workstation as needed.
SHRM said it fundamentally disagrees with the jury's verdict. The organization said it thoroughly reviewed her medical documentation, engaged legal counsel, and proposed multiple good-faith alternatives — including support for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump adjustments, and flexible leave. SHRM has said it intends to defend its position.
Comment Before the Verdict
Mary Kuntz commented on the case while a ruling was pending.
Second Liability Finding in Under a Year
The judgment marks the second time in less than a year that SHRM has been held liable in an employment-related lawsuit, according to the same Business Insider report. In December 2025, a jury returned an $11.5 million verdict against SHRM in an unrelated race-discrimination and retaliation case brought by a former employee. That earlier case, per HR Morning, involved former SHRM employee Rehab Mohamed, whom a Colorado jury awarded $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages after a five-day trial. A Colorado federal court later denied SHRM's post-trial motions seeking to set aside that verdict. SHRM has said it is pursuing an appeal of that judgment, according to HR Dive.
Other Workplace Controversies at SHRM
The Torres verdict lands amid a string of other internal controversies Business Insider has reported at SHRM, including a strict attendance policy, a report about the organization's dress code, and comments from SHRM CEO Johnny C. Taylor describing some staffers as entitled, complacent, and sloppy at a meeting.
Torres's case centers on SHRM's handling of her request for a workplace accommodation. For now, the fallout from the Alexandria verdict remains unresolved, with SHRM saying it will evaluate its options.
