Representing a Plaintiff in a Wrongful Termination Case

Preliminary Pages
PREFACE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CHECKLISTS
TABLE OF EXHIBITS
Chapter 1
Interviewing the Client
§ 1.1 CONDUCT PREINTERVIEW SCREENING
§ 1.2 HAVE THE CLIENT GATHER DOCUMENTS
§ 1.3 HAVE THE CLIENT PREPARE A CHRONOLOGY
§ 1.4 GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLAIM
§ 1.5 ESTABLISH THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
§ 1.6 LEARN THE “CAST OF CHARACTERS”
§ 1.7 REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS
§ 1.8 DETERMINE THE CLIENT’S GOALS
§ 1.9 EVALUATE THE CLIENT
§ 1.10 ADVISE THE CLIENT OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
§ 1.11 ADVISE THE CLIENT HOW TO BEST PROTECT HIS OR HER INTERESTS AND BEST POSITION THE CASE
CHECKLIST 1.1—Terms of the Employment Contract: A Checklist
EXHIBIT 1A—Telephone Intake Checklist for Wrongful Termination Client
EXHIBIT 1B—Client Questionnaire: Wrongful Termination Claim
Chapter 2
Evaluating Claims and Damages
§ 2.1 EVALUATE CLAIMS AVAILABLE TO AN ATWILL EMPLOYEE
§ 2.1.1 Common Law Entitlement to Severance Pay
§ 2.1.2 Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
§ 2.1.3 Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy
§ 2.2 EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT CLAIMS
§ 2.2.1 Breach of Contract for Permanent Employment or Employment Terminable Only for Just Cause
§ 2.2.2 Breach of Contract for Year-to-Year Employment
§ 2.2.3 Breach of Other Contract Terms
§ 2.2.4 Breach of Implied Contract Terms
(a) Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
(b) Personnel Manuals
(c) Conduct of the Parties, Including Oral Modifications
§ 2.2.5 Breach of a Third-Party Beneficiary Contract
§ 2.2.6 Promissory or Equitable Estoppel, Quantum Meruit, and Unjust Enrichment
§ 2.2.7 Promises Made by Public Employer
§ 2.2.8 Collective Bargaining Agreements
§ 2.3 CONSIDER WHETHER THE CLIENT MAY HAVE ANY TORT OR EQUITABLE CLAIMS
§ 2.3.1 Abuse of Process
§ 2.3.2 Civil Conspiracy
§ 2.3.3 Defamation
§ 2.3.4 False Imprisonment
§ 2.3.5 Fiduciary Rights of Minority Stockholder in a Closely Held Corporation
§ 2.3.6 Infliction of Emotional Distress
(a) Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
(b) Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
§ 2.3.7 Loss of Consortium / Parental Support
§ 2.3.8 Malicious Prosecution
§ 2.3.9 Misrepresentation
(a) Failure to Warn
(b) Intentional Misrepresentation
(c) Negligent Misrepresentation
(d) Promissory Statements and the “Superior Knowledge” Exception
§ 2.3.10 Negligence
(a) Performance of Contractual Duty
(b) Hiring, Supervision, and Retention of Employees by Third Parties
§ 2.3.11 Tortious Interference with Advantageous Relations
§ 2.4 DETERMINE IF THE CLIENT MAY BE PROTECTED UNDER STATUTORY LAW
§ 2.4.1 Civil Rights
§ 2.4.2 Civil Service
§ 2.4.3 Continuation of Health Benefits Coverage
§ 2.4.4 Corporate Governance
§ 2.4.5 Credit Reports
§ 2.4.6 Criminal Record Information
§ 2.4.7 Electronic Surveillance
§ 2.4.8 Employee Retirement Income and Security Act
§ 2.4.9 Equal Pay
§ 2.4.10 Family and Medical Leave Act
§ 2.4.11 Paid Family Leave
§ 2.4.12 Fraudulent Advertisement of Employment Terms
§ 2.4.13 Garnishment
§ 2.4.14 Health and Safety
§ 2.4.15 HTLV-III Testing
§ 2.4.16 Interference with Employment
§ 2.4.17 Invasion of Privacy
§ 2.4.18 Personal Information and Identity Theft
§ 2.4.19 Involuntary Retirement of Public Employees
§ 2.4.20 Jury Service
§ 2.4.21 Lie Detector Tests
§ 2.4.22 Parental Leave
§ 2.4.23 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
§ 2.4.24 National Labor Relations Act
§ 2.4.25 Nonpayment of Wages
§ 2.4.26 Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
§ 2.4.27 Personnel Records
§ 2.4.28 Plant Closing
§ 2.4.29 Public School Employee Tenure
§ 2.4.30 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act
§ 2.4.31 Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Claim and Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
§ 2.4.32 Sexual Harassment
§ 2.4.33 Small Necessities Leave Act
§ 2.4.34 State and Federal Tort Claims
§ 2.4.35 Takeovers
§ 2.4.36 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
§ 2.4.37 Unlawful Discrimination
(a) Massachusetts Laws
(b) A Primer on Proof of Discrimination Under G.L. c. 151B
(c) Mixed Motive Cases
(d) Individual Liability Under G.L. c. 151B
(e) Massachusetts Equal Rights Act
(f) Federal Laws
(g) Mixed Motive Cases
(h) Cat’s Paw Liability
(i) Retaliation
(j) Stereotyping, Same-Sex Sexual Harassment, and Gender Expectations
(k) Association Claims
(l) Loss of Consortium
§ 2.4.38 Wages and Hours
§ 2.4.39 Whistleblower Protections
§ 2.4.40 Workers’ Compensation Act
§ 2.4.41 Earned Sick Time Law
§ 2.4.42 Domestic Violence and Abusive Situation Leave
§ 2.4.43 Domestic Workers Bill of Rights
§ 2.5 EVALUATE POSSIBLE DAMAGES
§ 2.5.1 Contract Damages
(a) Lost Benefit of Contract
Durational Term
“Unenforceable” Contracts
(b) Consequential Losses
§ 2.5.2 Tort Damages
(a) Compensatory Damages
(b) Related Claims
§ 2.5.3 Damages Available for Statutory Claims
(a) Massachusetts Statutes
Unlawful Discrimination
Transgender Equal Rights
Equal Pay Statute
Massachusetts Equal Rights Act
Right-to-Privacy Statute
Massachusetts Civil Rights Act
Various Employment Laws and Multiple Damages
(b) Federal Statutes
Title VII Employment Discrimination
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
Americans with Disabilities Act
Equal Pay Act
Civil Rights
Family and Medical Leave Act
(c) Punitive Damages
Chapter 3
Anticipating Employer Defenses
§ 3.1 LOOK FOR CLAIM OR ISSUE PRECLUSION
§ 3.2 CONSIDER CONTRACT DEFENSES
§ 3.2.1 Breach of Fiduciary Duty to the Employer
§ 3.2.2 Failure to Pursue or Exhaust Contractual Remedies
§ 3.2.3 Indefiniteness
§ 3.2.4 Just Cause
§ 3.2.5 Unlikelihood of Improvement
§ 3.2.6 Lack of Authority
§ 3.2.7 Disclaimers
§ 3.2.8 Lack of Consideration
(a) Consideration
(b) Detrimental Reliance
§ 3.2.9 Lack of Mutuality of Obligation
§ 3.2.10 Parol Evidence Rule
§ 3.2.11 Statute of Frauds
(a) Contracts for Permanent Employment or Employment Terminable Only for Just Cause
(b) Contracts for Year-to-Year Employment or Employment of Shorter Duration
(c) Contracts for Duration Longer than a Year
(d) Other Contract Terms
§ 3.3 DETERMINE WHETHER IMMUNITY EXISTS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYERS OR EMPLOYEES
§ 3.3.1 Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity
§ 3.3.2 Federal Employee Immunity
§ 3.3.3 Massachusetts Tort Claims Act
§ 3.3.4 Common Law Absolute Immunity
§ 3.3.5 Common Law Qualified Immunity
§ 3.4 CONSIDER WHETHER NONPUBLIC EMPLOYER ENJOYS SOME FORM OF IMMUNITY
§ 3.4.1 Native American Tribes
§ 3.4.2 Charitable Organizations
§ 3.5 REVIEW ERISA LIMITATIONS AND PREEMPTION
§ 3.5.1 Failure to Exhaust
§ 3.5.2 Preemption of State Law Claims
§ 3.6 TRACK CLIENT’S EFFORTS TO MITIGATE DAMAGES
§ 3.7 MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES OF LIMITATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE FILING REQUIREMENTS
§ 3.8 CHECK FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PREEMPTION
§ 3.9 CONSIDER OTHER DEFENSE THEORIES
§ 3.9.1 NLRA/LMRA Preemption
§ 3.9.2 Remedies Limited by After-Acquired Evidence
§ 3.9.3 Preexisting Statutory Scheme
§ 3.9.4 Release of Claims Executed by Employee
§ 3.10 SELECTED DISCRIMINATION DEFENSES
§ 3.10.1 Motion to Compel Arbitration
§ 3.10.2 “Employee”/“Employer” Requirements Not Met
§ 3.10.3 Untimely Administrative Filing
(a) Notice of Adverse Action and Equitable Tolling
(b) Continuing Violation Doctrine
§ 3.10.4 Inadequacy of the Administrative Filing
§ 3.10.5 Failure to Establish a Prima Facie Case
§ 3.10.6 Legitimate Nondiscriminatory Reasons
§ 3.10.7 Failure to Prove Pretext
§ 3.10.8 Miscellaneous Defenses
(a) Adverse Employment Actions
(b) Stray Remarks
(c) Age Defenses
(d) Harassment Defenses
(e) Religious Discrimination Defenses
§ 3.10.9 Equal Pay Act Affirmative Defense
§ 3.10.10 Disability Defenses
Chapter 4
Counseling the Client on Strategy Options
§ 4.1 WARN THE CLIENT OF CHALLENGES IN PURSUING A WRONGFUL TERMINATION CASE
§ 4.2 EXPLORE PRELITIGATION SETTLEMENT
§ 4.3 CONSIDER AVAILABLE ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES
§ 4.4 ANTICIPATE POTENTIAL COUNTERCLAIMS
§ 4.5 DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF YOUR CASE FOR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
§ 4.6 CONSIDER PURSUING OTHER AVENUES FOR FINANCIAL RELIEF
§ 4.6.1 Unemployment Compensation Benefits
§ 4.6.2 Disability Benefits
§ 4.6.3 Benefits Available Under Federal, State, and Local Programs
§ 4.6.4 Duty to Mitigate
§ 4.7 MAKE APPROPRIATE REFERRALS
§ 4.7.1 Evaluate Emotional Distress
§ 4.7.2 Treatment of Emotional Distress and Injury
§ 4.7.3 Tax Advice
§ 4.7.4 Outplacement and Transition Services
§ 4.8 CONDUCT INFORMAL DISCOVERY
§ 4.8.1 Personnel Records
§ 4.8.2 Prior Filings
§ 4.8.3 Witness Interviews
§ 4.8.4 Publicly Available Information on the Employer and Other Potential Defendants
§ 4.8.5 Contact with Opposing Counsel
(a) Rule 11 Inquiry
(b) Spoliation Letter
§ 4.9 ENTER INTO AN APPROPRIATE WRITTEN FEE AGREEMENT WITH THE CLIENT
§ 4.10 RECONSIDER SETTLING THE CASE OR PURSUING ADR OPTIONS
EXHIBIT 4A—Sample Demand Letter
Chapter 5
Litigating the Claim
§ 5.1 COMPLY WITH ADMINISTRATIVE FILING REQUIREMENTS
§ 5.1.1 Right of Removal
§ 5.1.2 Choice of Forum
§ 5.2 DRAFT THE COMPLAINT
§ 5.3 CONSIDER SEEKING INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
§ 5.4 IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS IN DISCOVERY
§ 5.5 IDENTIFY THE DISCOVERY RULES FOR THE APPLICABLE FORUM
§ 5.5.1 MCAD
§ 5.5.2 State Court
§ 5.5.3 Federal Court
§ 5.6 EMPLOY ALL DISCOVERY TOOLS
§ 5.6.1 Requests for Production of Documents and Things
§ 5.6.2 Interrogatories
§ 5.6.3 Expert Interrogatories
§ 5.6.4 Depositions
(a) Depositions of the Defendants’ Witnesses
(b) Deposition of the Plaintiff
§ 5.6.5 Requests for Admissions
§ 5.7 EMPLOY EFFECTIVE DISCOVERY STRATEGIES
§ 5.7.1 Marshal Proof That the Reasons Given for Termination Are Pretextual
§ 5.7.2 Stipulations of Confidentiality
§ 5.8 RESPOND TO DEFENDANTS’ DISCOVERY
§ 5.8.1 Common Areas of Dispute
§ 5.8.2 Objections
§ 5.9 FILE AND RESPOND TO MOTIONS
§ 5.9.1 Procedures Generally Applicable to Motions
(a) MCAD
(b) State Court
(c) Federal Court
§ 5.9.2 Motions to Compel
§ 5.9.3 Motions to Dismiss
§ 5.9.4 Motions for Summary Judgment
(a) Generally
(b) Using Bulwer to Defeat Summary Judgment
§ 5.9.5 Motions to Strike
§ 5.9.6 Motions in Limine
§ 5.10 PREPARE FOR THE PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
§ 5.10.1 Pretrial Memorandum
§ 5.10.2 Pretrial Conference
§ 5.11 DRAFT THE TRIAL BRIEF
§ 5.12 PREPARE A TRIAL NOTEBOOK
§ 5.13 PREPARE AN OPENING STATEMENT
§ 5.14 PREPARE WITNESS OUTLINES
§ 5.15 PREPARE YOUR WITNESSES
§ 5.15.1 Your Client
§ 5.15.2 Corroborating and Other Lay Witnesses
§ 5.15.3 Expert Witnesses
§ 5.15.4 Exhibits and Chalks
(a) Exhibits
(b) Chalks
§ 5.16 PREPARE FOR CROSS-EXAMINATION OF DEFENSE WITNESSES
§ 5.17 PREPARE PROPOSED JURY INSTRUCTIONS
§ 5.18 PREPARE SPECIAL VERDICT FORMS
§ 5.19 COMPLY WITH NOTICE AND SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
§ 5.19.1 Defamation Claims
§ 5.19.2 Intent to Offer Certain Medical Documents into Evidence
§ 5.19.3 Subpoenas
EXHIBIT 5A—Sample Amended Complaint and Jury Demand in Wrongful Termination Case
EXHIBIT 5B—Sample Proof-of-Pretext Chart
EXHIBIT 5C—Confidentiality Stipulation
EXHIBIT 5D—Sample Special Jury Verdict Form
Chapter 6
Trying the Case
§ 6.1 BUILD A THEME
§ 6.2 SELECT THE JURY
§ 6.2.1 State Court
§ 6.2.2 Federal Court
§ 6.2.3 Voir Dire
§ 6.3 MAKE APPROPRIATE JUROR CHALLENGES
§ 6.3.1 Challenges for Cause
§ 6.3.2 Peremptory Challenges
§ 6.4 PREPARE AN OPENING STATEMENT
§ 6.5 PRESENT YOUR CLIENT’S CASE
§ 6.6 ANTICIPATE A MOTION FOR DIRECTED VERDICT
§ 6.7 OBJECT TO IMPROPER EVIDENCE
§ 6.8 CONDUCT CROSS-EXAMINATION
§ 6.9 ATTEND THE CHARGE CONFERENCE
§ 6.10 DELIVER A CLOSING ARGUMENT
§ 6.11 BE PREPARED TO OBJECT TO JURY INSTRUCTIONS
§ 6.12 BE PREPARED FOR POSTTRIAL MOTIONS
§ 6.12.1 Motion for Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict
§ 6.12.2 Motion for New Trial
§ 6.13 SEEK ATTORNEY FEES
§ 6.13.1 Discretionary Awards
§ 6.13.2 Mandatory Awards
§ 6.13.3 Determining the Prevailing Party
§ 6.13.4 Establishing the Reasonableness of Award
§ 6.14 FILE A NOTICE OF APPEAL, IF NECESSARY
Appendix A
Wrongful Termination Resources Guide
MCLE PUBLICATIONS
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
AGENCIES
Massachusetts Attorney General
Advisories
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Compliance Manual Sections
Enforcement Guidelines
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
Regulations
Fact Sheets
Guides
Guidelines
INTERNET RESOURCES
Appendix B
Public Policies That Protect AtWill Employees
PUBLIC POLICIES IDENTIFIED
I. Asserting a Legally Guaranteed Right
II. Doing What the Law Requires
III. Refusing to Do What the Law Forbids
IV. Performance of an Important Public Deeds
A. Participation in Governmental Investigations
B. Safety Issues
C. Crime or Fraud
D. National Defense
E. Respecting Patient/Customer Demands
SOURCES OF PUBLIC POLICY
I. Massachusetts Constitution
II. Massachusetts Statutes
III. Federal Statutes
IV. Case Law
V. Regulations
VI. Ordinances
VII. Code of Ethics
VIII. Executive Order
IX. General Sense of What Is Right(?!)
Appendix C
Exceptions to the At-Will Employment Doctrine: Checklists*
CHECKLIST A—Summary Checklist
CHECKLIST B—Illegal Reasons to Discriminate Against an Employee