Do I Need a Lawyer?

[jclalor 12]

Last February, I received a call from the Caifornia Consumer Protection Agency, they asked if I could meet them that afternoon, I agreed. I was surprised when they showed me their badge and that they had weapons. It didn't take long to figure out they were investigaing me.

They told me the nursing board had received an anonymous email accusing me of leaving my patients for hours at a time, and stealing narcotics. I knew these claims were aburdly false. They asked me if I knew anyone who would make such accusations, I said I did. They told me this investigation was confidential and I was not to talk to anyone. I also had to take a urine test.

About six months before, we had a new Respirator therapist at work, she was extremely flirtatious. I work with my fiancé and it's safe to say she was not too happy with the new RT. About this time our director of nursing recieved an an anonymous complaint against my fiancé, accusing her of sleeping all night and a host of other things. Everyone knew who wrote it, it was the RT.

Every couple of months I would get a call from the detectives asking me for permission to get my work records and medical records.

In May, while counting narcotics with the incoming nurse, I was missing a single pill from the bubble pack, the first missing narcotic I had in 12 years. I met with the administrator the next day and she told me that in light of the states investigation and the missing pill, I was fired. She was part of the new ownership team.

A few weeks earlier, we had gotten new med carts that were missed sized, this caused the bubble wrapped cards to be crushed, and I believe this is how the pill fell out, they would not let me take the drawers out to see if the tablet was behind the drawers or in the railing tracks.

A couple of days later the investigators asked to meet with me again to go over my employment records. I told them I was just fired, they told me that the investigation would not be over for several months.

Last week I recieved a letter from the nursing board, it stated the investigation was over and there was no merit to the complaint and the case was closed. It was the hardest piece of mail I ever opened, I knew I was innocent, but one never knows how things like this can play out.

There have been several people since I was fired who have had pills missing from the bubble packs, no one was fired.

Does this sound like I should retain a lawyer? It's a bit hard finding a job with that on your resume.

[DanG 1]

Shit, sorry to hear that. People are evil, generally.

I'd at least speak with an employment lawyer, tell them the facts, and see what they say. It might cost a few hundred bucks, but at least you'll know where you stand.

- Dan G

[hcsvader 1]

A consultation couldnt hurt.

Have you seen my pants?
it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream
>:)

[BillyVance 35]

Sounds like you did nothing wrong. Consult with a lawyer for sure. Sue the hell out of them if you have a case.

Most likely they will settle, but you'll also want those false accusations taken off your record, if that is even possible.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[quade 4]

jclalor

Last February, I received a call from the Caifornia Consumer Protection Agency, they asked if I could meet them that afternoon, I agreed. I was surprised when they showed me their badge and that they had weapons. It didn't take long to figure out they were investigaing me.

Yes. You needed a lawyer at that second and every second since then.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[david3 0]

quade

***Last February, I received a call from the Caifornia Consumer Protection Agency, they asked if I could meet them that afternoon, I agreed. I was surprised when they showed me their badge and that they had weapons. It didn't take long to figure out they were investigaing me.

Yes. You needed a lawyer at that second and every second since then.

+1000

[riggerrob 643]

Careful about hiring a lawyer, because too many lawyers have ulterior motives. Most of those ulterior motives translate to more billable hours. If you are not careful, a lawsuit can cause more misery and more lost wages than the original problem.

Start by telling your old boss that you are willing to settle for a clean record and lost wages.

But be careful, because if you ask for too much, you might be branded a troublesome employee. Few employees - who sue for wrongful dismissal - ever stick with their old boss over the long run.
Worst case scenario, you gain a bad reputation and never work in the medical business again.

Guess how I acquired my allergy to lawyers???

[Coreeece 2]

jclalor

In May, while counting narcotics with the incoming nurse, I was missing a single pill from the bubble pack, the first missing narcotic I had in 12 years. I met with the administrator the next day and she told me that in light of the states investigation and the missing pill, I was fired. She was part of the new ownership team.

There have been several people since I was fired who have had pills missing from the bubble packs, no one was fired.

What was your pay rate compared to the other employees at your level? I suspect it was a bit higher considering your length of service and the war against women.

This isn't the first time I've heard of companies recently trying to find excuses to get rid of older, higher paid employees - especially after government involvement in those businesses under newer management, ie. automotive and medical.

Never was there an answer....not without listening, without seeing - Gilmour

[jclalor 12]

Coreeece

***In May, while counting narcotics with the incoming nurse, I was missing a single pill from the bubble pack, the first missing narcotic I had in 12 years. I met with the administrator the next day and she told me that in light of the states investigation and the missing pill, I was fired. She was part of the new ownership team.

There have been several people since I was fired who have had pills missing from the bubble packs, no one was fired.

What was your pay rate compared to the other employees at your level? I suspect it was a bit higher considering your length of service and the war against women.

This isn't the first time I've heard of companies recently trying to find excuses to get rid of older, higher paid employees - especially after government involvement in those business - ie., Automotive, Medical.

Welcome to the world of big (government) business. . .

I think you hit the nail on the head, I was probably paid 30% higher than a new nurse. The company was just bought and the new owners are doing what ever they can to get the cost down.

It was strange in that when I applied for unemployment, my work said I was fired and was not due to collect. When I had my phone interview with unemployment, the girl was an absolute bitch. She told me that " I'm not even a nurse and I know you get fired for stealing drugs" I was absolutely convinced I wasn't getting a dime. I'm not sure why but theyre paying me.

[jclalor 12]

riggerrob

Careful about hiring a lawyer, because too many lawyers have ulterior motives. Most of those ulterior motives translate to more billable hours. If you are not careful, a lawsuit can cause more misery and more lost wages than the original problem.

Start by telling your old boss that you are willing to settle for a clean record and lost wages.

But be careful, because if you ask for too much, you might be branded a troublesome employee. Few employees - who sue for wrongful dismissal - ever stick with their old boss over the long run.
Worst case scenario, you gain a bad reputation and never work in the medical business again.

Guess how I acquired my allergy to lawyers???

The detectives were very closed lip, they were very nice and polite, but closed lip. I wondered when they talked with my bosses if they maintained a neutral stance, I think they did. That's what really pisses me off, is I would be fired before the investigation was over.

I'm wondering if I should write a letter to the person who fired me and ask for my job back, and also enclose a copy of the letter from the nursing board. Or do I find a lawyer before I do anything else?

[skybill 22]

Hi JC,
Something I learned a long, long time ago in a Galaxy Far, Far away,"Admit to Nothing, Deny EVERYTHING!!!!" and never let down your Guard!!! ( From Our late, great president Ronald Reagan!!!) I too had an asshole at work that tried to "Start Shit!!" He ended up suing me for "Assaulting him, Stalking him and Making threatening Phone calls to him!!!! (break, Break have to go fix a fresh drink!!).....None of it worked because I got a Good lawyer,,,yes it cost me some bucks but in the end it's funny......you see, his claims were really funny...he claimed to be "A MAN" but acted like a "PUSSY!!" If I "assaulted him, why didn't he just 'BEAT MY ASS OR GET HIS BEAT BY ME LIKE A MAN????" So in the process of getting suied, I had no clue and was quite wierded out by all this, my Lady (soon to be my wife) was concerned and wondered and asked if before she and I met was (HE AND I LOVERS!!???) 'Good thing I wasn't drinkin' a beer at the time because I'd a 'PUKED!!!!!" (GOT THAT?? and there's more!!) So we go on and "HE" decides he has to add more fuel to the fire and comes up with more charges (Occurring at the DZ!!) and My Lawyer is about to blow his stack now!!!!, after declaring that this new evidence is going to cost me BIG DOLLARS, as he (my Lawyer) walks by me to his secretary, with the papers in his hand he stops, looks at me in the eye and yells,"IS HE GAY???????...IS HE IN LOVE WITH YOU?????" Well Boyz and Girlz I gotta say "I can not Care less about someone being GAY!!!!!" But I had a great deal of trouble trying to fathom why he had this much attraction to me.....trust me I m not "Beautiful!!" Well as it turned out he was busted on several "Time lines" that showed that he was really off Base among other things ......well, I had a Good Lawyer, think I said that, I never went up in front of a Judge, Never had any "Judgement against me" after our deposition party "His Lawyer" told him that he didn't have a case and bailed on him!!! "He" ended up crawling to "MY LAWYER" and BEGGED OFF!! What a pathetic loser!! I could have carried on but "Revenge is Bittersweet, but, if you just sit back relax and watch, Karma can be pure Entertainment!!!!!" After all this Mr. Matcho Man was no longer Matcho!! his alegations and accusations only showed him to be the ball-less wonder contrary to his belief that he really is.He never showed his face at the DZ again after that...Case Closed, The Bar is OPEN!!!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out

[BillyVance 35]

A side note here, and this is very important for anyone who has a job. Anytime you find yourself having issues with co-workers... DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Create a time line with dates and times of occurrences. It will help take you a long way, even before you decide to lawyer up. Your lawyer will love that you did it.

Friend of mine got summarily fired without being given a chance to argue her case at a state school for the deaf. She started having issues with a coworker (who was also summarily fired). She documented everything like I said in the first paragraph. The issues did eventually turn physical. And when she reported the issue to her superior, both were called in and terminated on the spot.

Then she took her half-inch thick folder to her lawyer, who then reviewed everything and called the school's legal counsel. They settled her case out of court and she got a nice sizable house down payment out of it.

As always, YMMV depending on the situation.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban