A. Relevant Dates and Facts
a. 1973 ? Paul Cronan hired by New England Telephone (NET) straight from high school. He began working as a file clerk.
b. 1983 ? Cronan was promoted to Service Technician.
c. January to June 1985 ? Cronan was ill at various times, having symptoms of AIDS-related complex (ARC).
d. June 1985 ? Cronan was denied permission to leave work for a medical appointment by his supervisor, Charles O'Brian. O'Brian had given permission on two other occasions, but refused this third time unless Cronan revealed the reason for the appointment. Cronan told O'Brian of his condition only after O'Brian promised the information would be held in confidence. O'Brian excused Cronan for his medical appointment. The next day, Cronan was required to see a company doctor who examined him for 10 minutes.
Several days after the appointment, a co-worker phoned Cronan to say that she had heard Cronan was infected with AIDS.
e. June 10, 1985 ? Cronan began receiving departmental sickness benefits after phoning his supervisor and requesting medical leave. One week later, Cronan began receiving company paid illness benefits.
f. June 21, 1985 ? Cronan's personal physician provided a medical certificate stating that Cronan was disabled for 3 months. This certificate was renewed and extended for one year.
g. During the summer of Cronan's absence, graffiti was written on the bathroom walls at work.
h. August 1985 ? NET department heads from Personnel, Labor Relations, and Medical began meeting to talk about the potential impact of AIDS on the company an ...