Judge allows civil suit over co-worker's perfume

[Newsjock]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/11/27/national/a064946S34.DTL&tsp=1

A federal judge says a Detroit city employee can proceed with a civil suit claiming she couldn't work because of a co-worker's strong perfume.

The Detroit News says U.S. District Judge Lawrence Zatkoff determined Susan McBride has a potential claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The city is asking to have the suit dismissed.

McBride says she's severely sensitive to perfumes and other cosmetics. She says the perfume worn by a co-worker in the city's Planning Department made it difficult for her to breathe.

[davidinalameda]

1. as someone who is odor sensitive

I say go for it girl!

I've had to go home at times in the past because of perfumes, flowers, etc in the workplace because it was too much for me to deal with

my allergies go crazy when this happens

people should be more aware of those around them and leave the perfume for dates

[DesertFlower]

4. i'm sensitive too.

i don't work anymore, but i had to ask my co-workers not to wear perfume, hairspray, etc. sometimes when i'm in a restaurant if someone walks by wearing perfume i get dizzy and feel like i'm eating perfume. perfume should only be smelled by someone who is very close to you. i think it's the spray bottles -- you can't control the amount that comes out.

[davidinalameda]

8. my sense of smell is my superpower

I'm especially sensitive to certain flowers

I can't be in the same room as roses and star gazer lilies

my sinuses slam shut immediately and I can't breathe; get headaches and have to lay down

I accidently insulted a co-worker when I asked what kind of cheap cologne her husband had on one day he came into the office; she said it was some expensive crap-I told her it stunk

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Good! Sue every one of those goddamned perfume wearing self-obsessed fuckwits into bankruptcy.

Fuck 'em all.

[sandnsea]

3. I can't take it either

It's much more nauseating to me than cigarette smoke. I can't imagine having to work with that either. I would think people would be more considerate and just tone it down.

[DesertFlower]

5. cigarette smoke makes

me dizzy and lightheaded.

[hlthe2b]

6. When that perfume "Poison" came out, I thought I would die...

Granted scent is very individual, but the sheer strength of what came in that vile purple bottle was so obnoxious to me, it made me nauseous. I've never reacted that way to another fragrance, male or female... The sheer popularity of it made my life quite miserable in several settings over the year or two it remained so hard to avoid.

I know this suit might be frivolous or not... But, I, for one, am glad it is going to proceed.

[DesertFlower]

11. my manager wore it.

when i got to work in the morning, i knew she was there because i could smell it as soon as i got off the elevator.

[Obamanaut]

12. I was thinking that very same thing while reading the OP. "Poison"

makes the back of my head feel like ice picks are digging in. It starts immediately, and takes a couple of days for the headache to go away.

[nosmokes]

7. I swear, some folks must buy chanel in a drum or sumpin

And men can be just as bad. Whatever happened to soap and water?

[Richard D]

9. All right!

I hate the smell of 99% of all perfumes, colognes, soaps, aftershaves, deodorants, essential oils, hair goop, and nail polish remover. They instantly make me nauseous and give me a headache. I've gone to parties or gatherings where I get a hug from someone who is drenched in the shit and I have to go home, burn my clothes (not quite) and shower the stink off, which usually takes quite a bit of effort.

I don't understand how perfume wearers do it and it really bugs me how insensitive they can be to others.

I use no perfumed or scented products at all in my home or on my body. Unscented laundry soap, body and hand soap, dish soap, and house hold cleansers are all scent free.

Plus, so many chemicals and scents are quite toxic and possibly even carcinogenic. Here's some info: http://www.ourlittleplace.com/epa.html

[Donnachaidh]

10. good! Perhaps then people will stop MARINATING themselves in those noxious

perfumes and body scents.

People don't have to be asthmatic to be severely affected by some idiot who decides to forego showering and sprays themselves head to toe with this crap. And if you do shower and still think you smell funky - it's time to see a DOCTOR, not whip out some overpriced toilet water.

[amdezurik]

13. sorry to say, we might need to get used to it

perfumes were developed to counter body odors due to a lack of clean water to wash with, along with cultural issues. So with the possibility of water wars soon it may become a necessity again...