Kentucky man Kevin Berling was fired over his response to the party, which was standard for employees but which he had explicitly told managers he did not want, WKRC-TV reports.

Tony Bucher, his attorney, said: “They started giving him a pretty hard time for his response to the birthday celebration, actually accusing him of stealing his co-workers’ joy.”

Mr Berling told the court that the birthday party and a subsequent meeting with his bosses had triggered a panic attack. He said his workplace should have accepted his request as a reasonable accommodation.

A jury awarded him $300,000 for emotional distress and $150,000 in lost wages.