- #1
turbo
Gold Member
- 3,165
- 56
Unfortunately, the outcome was not favorable to me. Employment law is heavily weighted toward employers, and the burden of proof was on me to show that my former boss fired me in retaliation for threatening to file a discrimination claim under the ADA when he slashed my incentive pay by 50% unilaterally. The jury bought his assertion that he was going to fire me anyway, mooting the retaliation charge, leaving me with no grounds for appeal.
I don't think that the jury was too sharp. When my little two-person division makes the boss $2.5M in 2004-2005 (out-earning all the other 3 divisions combined), it's pretty evident that I've been busting my hump, so my effectiveness at the job should not have been in question. That alone should have told the jurors that the cause of my firing was my intention to file an ADA discrimination claim against him. Apparently they did not get that, despite the best efforts of my lawyers. I cannot fault my lawyers - they did a great job. At least this 3-year ordeal is over, regardless of the poor outcome. My lawyers took my case on a contingent-fee basis, so I don't have any legal bills. It would have been nice to have 3 years of back pay awarded, but I can live without it.
It's not the end of the world. An administrative law judge for the SSA has ruled that I am fully disabled, and I should start receiving checks soon, plus some back benefits.
My wife and I have each other, and (seeing economic troubles on the horizon several years ago) we have positioned ourselves well with an easy-to-maintain small house with a nice garden spot. We are far more self-sufficient for food and heat than anybody I know around here. We have never been big spenders, and have saved something from every paycheck, so unless the US falls into hyper-inflation, we'll be fine.
I don't think that the jury was too sharp. When my little two-person division makes the boss $2.5M in 2004-2005 (out-earning all the other 3 divisions combined), it's pretty evident that I've been busting my hump, so my effectiveness at the job should not have been in question. That alone should have told the jurors that the cause of my firing was my intention to file an ADA discrimination claim against him. Apparently they did not get that, despite the best efforts of my lawyers. I cannot fault my lawyers - they did a great job. At least this 3-year ordeal is over, regardless of the poor outcome. My lawyers took my case on a contingent-fee basis, so I don't have any legal bills. It would have been nice to have 3 years of back pay awarded, but I can live without it.
It's not the end of the world. An administrative law judge for the SSA has ruled that I am fully disabled, and I should start receiving checks soon, plus some back benefits.
My wife and I have each other, and (seeing economic troubles on the horizon several years ago) we have positioned ourselves well with an easy-to-maintain small house with a nice garden spot. We are far more self-sufficient for food and heat than anybody I know around here. We have never been big spenders, and have saved something from every paycheck, so unless the US falls into hyper-inflation, we'll be fine.