Mother Loses Her Dead Son's Discrimination Case Against Amazon

David Peregrine was determined to make contributions at Amazon. Two years ago, the Welsh native, then 34 years old, was hired to work as an associate in the Internet giant's warehouse in Swansea, Wales. But when a back injury prevented him from carrying out eight-hour shifts during which he carried up 15 kilos (about 33 pounds) at a time, he eventually was suspended without pay, according to news source Wales Online.

After taking time off to recover from the back injury, in January 2010 Peregrine reportedly agreed to return to work in a less physically taxing role, but found himself having to do the same tasks as before and unable to continue. Amazon then suspended him and Peregrine lodged a grievance. Not long after, he was diagnosed with cancer.

He died in February 2011. On Tuesday, his mother, Ann Peregrine-Davies, 62, appeared before an employment tribunal accusing Amazon of employment discrimination. But on Wednesday, Judge Roger Harper threw out the case, saying Amazon had "no reason to know that the lower back pain was linked to cancer," according to Wales Online.