The wheels of justice turn slowly. A jury award of $2.4 million may have taken too long for the person supposed to receive it.
Daniel Ridge filed a wrongful termination suit against his former employer in 2017. As the case dragged on, the former morgue attendant's mental health deteriorated due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Becoming estranged from his family, Ridge joined the ranks of the homeless in Oakland, California.
The financial windfall from the outcome of his suit in March 2025 presented an unusual problem for his attorney and loved ones — nobody knows where Daniel Ridge is or how to contact him. Given the significant number of unhoused people in Oakland, locating him will be easier said than done.
Down Among the Dead
Ridge had a difficult childhood growing up in crime-ridden sections of California in the 1980s and 1990s. He lost six friends to gang-related violence and witnessed an uncle burn to death. According to his attorneys, this left him with undiagnosed PTSD.
After becoming a certified nursing assistant, Ridge was hired as a part-time morgue attendant at Highland Hospital in Oakland. It was part of the Alameda Health System. In 2013, the full-time morgue assistant took a leave of absence that would morph into retirement. Ridge picked up the responsibilities of a full-time attendant while only getting part-time pay and not receiving any benefits.
Despite Ridge repeatedly alerting his superiors, his status remained unchanged until Highwood posted a job opening for a full-time morgue attendant. After applying and interviewing, Ridge got the job near the end of 2014.
Ridge alleged that he was forced to go to a different floor for computer access when he needed to do research. He also claimed that the new disposal of formaldehyde procedures left him dizzy and disoriented. His requests for safety gear went ignored for 17 months. There was also an issue of an overabundance of corpses littered around the morgue.
Ridge was diagnosed with PTSD and depression in September 2015. After taking medical leave, he returned to work and suffered a panic attack on October 8. His psychiatrist first recommended six days of leave, which was later extended for the rest of October. Ridge claimed he was informed by a leave management coordinator for Alameda Health System that he was eligible for unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
When he returned on November 1, Ridge was told his employment had been terminated. He later filed a wrongful termination suit.
Finding a Millionaire
An Alameda County jury determined that Alameda Health System was liable for $2 million for past and future emotional distress and another $455,000 for loss of past earnings. The company indicated a likelihood of appealing the decision, but if the award stands, where will the money go?
Like many other Americans, Ridge struggled during the pandemic. His mental state deteriorated, making him unable to testify in his ongoing lawsuit. Pulling away from his family, Ridge left his home and vanished.
Finding Ridge, if he is indeed among the unhoused of Oakland, is a formidable task. He's had no contact with his family, and given that shelters often protect the identities of those who pass through, locating someone who may not want to be found could prove daunting.
Ridge's family has grim but perhaps unavoidable options if he can't be found. Under California law they can have him declared dead if no contact is made for five years. If there's no will in place, the award would be given to the appropriate family member. Hopefully, this story will have a happier ending.
Related Resources
- The Supreme Court Agrees To Rule on Criminalizing Homelessness (FindLaw's Federal Courts)
- Can I Sue for Emotional Distress? (FindLaw's Filing a Lawsuit)
- 5 Things To Know About Missing Persons Reports (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
