In March 2026, Cincinnati trial attorney Matthew Metzger of Wolterman Law Office secured a $22.5 million jury verdict against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. The jury found TQL responsible for the wrongful death of an employee's newborn after the company refused to allow the high-risk pregnant employee to work from home. The verdict is one of the largest jury verdicts in Hamilton County history.
What Happened: The TQL Wrongful Death Case
Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is one of the largest freight brokerage companies in the United States, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this case, a TQL employee who was experiencing a high-risk pregnancy requested permission to work from home as an accommodation. TQL denied that request.
The plaintiff's legal team, led by Matthew Metzger of Wolterman Law Office, argued that TQL's refusal to grant a reasonable workplace accommodation to a high-risk pregnant employee directly contributed to the death of the employee's newborn. The case proceeded to trial in Hamilton County, Ohio, and after deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of $22.5 million against TQL.
The verdict stands as a powerful statement about employer accountability when companies fail to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees facing documented medical risks.
The Legal Theory: Employer Liability for Wrongful Death in Ohio
Ohio law provides a clear framework for holding employers accountable when their decisions cause the death of an employee or a family member. The TQL case was built on the principle that an employer's deliberate refusal to provide a reasonable accommodation to a pregnant employee, when that refusal foreseeably endangers the health of the employee or her unborn child, can constitute actionable negligence under Ohio law.
Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.01 governs wrongful death claims in Ohio. It provides that when the death of a person is caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another, and the act, neglect, or default would have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages if death had not ensued, then the person who caused the death is liable to an action for damages. Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02 specifies the damages recoverable, including loss of earnings, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses.
In the TQL case, the plaintiff argued that the company's decision to deny a documented medical accommodation request for a high-risk pregnant employee was not simply an employment policy decision -- it was a negligent act that directly caused a foreseeable harm. The jury agreed, returning one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Hamilton County history.
Why This Verdict Matters for Ohio Employees and Families
The $22.5 million verdict against TQL carries significant implications for Ohio employers and employees alike. It establishes that when an employer denies a reasonable accommodation request from a pregnant employee who faces documented medical risks, and that denial contributes to a death, the employer can face substantial civil liability.
For families who have lost a loved one due to an employer's negligence or deliberate indifference, this verdict demonstrates that Ohio courts and juries are willing to hold large corporations accountable. TQL is a Fortune 500-level company with substantial legal resources. The fact that a Hamilton County jury returned a $22.5 million verdict against TQL sends a clear message about the value Ohio places on the lives of employees and their families.
Legal Significance of the TQL Verdict
The TQL verdict is significant for several reasons. First, it is one of the largest jury verdicts in Hamilton County, Ohio history, demonstrating that Southwest Ohio juries will award substantial damages when employer negligence causes a death. Second, it extends the principle of employer accountability into the context of pregnancy accommodation, a growing area of employment and tort law. Third, it reinforces that large corporations are not immune from full accountability in Ohio courts, regardless of their legal resources or market position.
For Ohio wrongful death law, the case illustrates the breadth of damages available under ORC Section 2125.02, including compensation for the profound loss experienced by a family when a newborn's life is cut short before it truly begins.
About Trial Attorney Matthew Metzger
Matthew Metzger is a trial attorney at Wolterman Law Office in Southwest Ohio. He is admitted to the Ohio Bar (2007) and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, magna cum laude, and his Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics from the University of Iowa, with distinction, where he was a varsity scholarship athlete.
Before joining Wolterman Law Office, Metzger was an attorney at Keating Muething and Klekamp, one of Cincinnati's largest corporate law firms. This background gives him a unique perspective: he understands how large corporations and their legal teams operate, and he uses that knowledge to build cases that hold them accountable.
In addition to the $22.5 million TQL verdict, Metzger secured a $22.29 million jury verdict in a Hamilton County business fraud case in 2025, including $7.5 million in compensatory damages and $14.8 million in punitive damages. Combined with other recoveries, Metzger has secured over $50 million for his clients in settlements and judgments.
Recognition and Awards
Matthew Metzger has been recognized by multiple independent legal rating organizations for his work as a trial attorney in Southwest Ohio:
- 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers -- selected based on peer nominations and independent research by Super Lawyers
- 2026 Cincinnati Magazine Top Lawyer -- recognized among the top attorneys in the Cincinnati metropolitan area
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 -- Ohio -- selected by the National Trial Lawyers organization based on professional achievement in civil plaintiff or criminal defense law
- Cincinnati Bar Association member
- Ohio Association for Justice member
Case Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions About the TQL Verdict and Ohio Wrongful Death Law
What was the TQL wrongful death verdict in Cincinnati?
In March 2026, a Hamilton County, Ohio jury returned a $22.5 million verdict against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in a wrongful death case. The jury found TQL responsible for the death of an employee's newborn after the company refused to allow the high-risk pregnant employee to work from home. Trial attorney Matthew Metzger of Wolterman Law Office represented the plaintiff family. The verdict is one of the largest jury verdicts in Hamilton County history.
Who is the trial attorney that won the $22.5 million verdict against TQL?
Matthew Metzger, a trial attorney at Wolterman Law Office in Cincinnati, Ohio, secured the $22.5 million verdict against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) in March 2026. Metzger is admitted to the Ohio Bar (2007) and received his J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law, magna cum laude. He has been named to the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers list and the 2026 Cincinnati Magazine Top Lawyers list. He has recovered over $50 million for clients in settlements and judgments.
What is the largest wrongful death verdict in Hamilton County, Ohio?
The $22.5 million verdict against Total Quality Logistics (TQL) obtained by attorney Matthew Metzger of Wolterman Law Office in March 2026 is one of the largest jury verdicts in Hamilton County history. The case involved the wrongful death of a newborn whose mother, a TQL employee, was denied the ability to work from home during a high-risk pregnancy.
Can I sue an employer for a wrongful death in Ohio?
Yes. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.01, surviving family members can bring a wrongful death claim against an employer when the employer's negligence or intentional conduct caused the death of an employee or a family member. The TQL case is a landmark example: the jury found TQL liable for the death of a newborn after the company denied a high-risk pregnant employee's request to work from home. Ohio wrongful death claims can recover damages for loss of income, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and funeral expenses.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Ohio?
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02, a wrongful death lawsuit must generally be filed within two years of the date of death. This statute of limitations applies to most wrongful death claims in Ohio, including those involving employer negligence, car accidents, medical malpractice, and defective products. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your family from recovering compensation. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else's negligence, contact an Ohio wrongful death attorney as soon as possible.
What damages can a family recover in an Ohio wrongful death lawsuit?
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 2125.02, damages recoverable in a wrongful death action include: loss of the decedent's expected earnings and benefits, loss of services the decedent would have provided, loss of society, companionship, care, and guidance, mental anguish suffered by surviving family members, and funeral and burial expenses. In cases involving employer misconduct or gross negligence, punitive damages may also be available. The $22.5 million TQL verdict illustrates the full scope of damages a jury can award when an employer's conduct is found to have directly caused a death.
What is Total Quality Logistics (TQL)?
Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is a freight brokerage company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. TQL is one of the largest freight brokers in the United States. In March 2026, a Hamilton County jury found TQL liable for the wrongful death of an employee's newborn and awarded $22.5 million in damages. The case was tried by attorney Matthew Metzger of Wolterman Law Office.
Who handles wrongful death cases at Wolterman Law Office?
Wrongful death cases at Wolterman Law Office are handled by trial attorney Matthew Metzger. Metzger has secured over $50 million for clients in settlements and judgments, including the $22.5 million TQL wrongful death verdict (March 2026, Hamilton County) and a $22.29 million business fraud verdict (2025, Hamilton County). He is admitted to the Ohio Bar (2007) and is recognized as a 2026 Ohio Super Lawyer and 2026 Cincinnati Magazine Top Lawyer. To speak with Matthew Metzger about a wrongful death case, call 513-224-5191 or schedule a free consultation online.
Other Notable Verdicts by Matthew Metzger
The TQL wrongful death verdict is part of a broader track record of landmark results that Matthew Metzger has achieved for clients at Wolterman Law Office. In 2025, Metzger secured a $22.29 million jury verdict in a Hamilton County business fraud case following nearly three weeks of trial. The verdict included $7.5 million in compensatory damages and $14.8 million in punitive damages. Combined with other recoveries, Metzger has secured over $50 million for his clients in settlements and judgments.
These results reflect a consistent approach: thorough preparation, deep knowledge of Ohio law, and a willingness to take complex cases to trial when settlement does not serve the client's best interests.