MOULTON — Lynne Gobbell never imagined the cost of a John Kerry-John Edwards bumper sticker could run so high. Posted on 09/12/2004 4:54:10 PM PDT by GeorgiaFreeper
MOULTON — Lynne Gobbell never imagined the cost of a John Kerry-John Edwards bumper sticker could run so high.
DAILY Photo by Clyde Stancil Lynne Gobbell said her boss fired her last week because of the Kerry-Edwards campaign sticker on the back of her car. Gobbell of Moulton didn't pay a cent for the sticker that she proudly displays on the rear windshield of her Chevrolet Lumina, but said it cost her job at a local factory after it angered her boss, Phil Gaddis.
Gaddis, a Decatur bankruptcy attorney, owns Enviromate, a cellulose insulation company in Moulton.
Gaddis did not return phone calls from THE DAILY about the alleged Thursday firing.
Gobbell said she consulted a lawyer, but then changed her mind about going to see him. She said she has cried about the incident and must do without income for three weeks while the state unemployment commission decides if she is eligible for compensation.
(Excerpt) Read more at decaturdaily.com ...
I'm glad someone on this thread finally raised this point. In Alabama or any other employment at will state, employees may be fired at any time for any reason or no reason.
I am licensed to practice law in AL and I advise my clients who want to fire employees just to say "you're fired" and not give a reason. That just leads to arguments over whether firing is in fact justified (same thing applies when one cancels a contract, just cancel it, don't give a reason unless you have to.
There are exceptions of course: one may not be fired for race, sex, religion, or age (above 40). Again, that's why I advise to just fire with no reason given. What the employer gives as a reason may later be interpreted as evidence that the real reason was he wanted to get rid of employee for an impermissible reason. For example, saying to an employee over 40, "Joe, you are just too tired these days" or "we need some fresh blood in here" is evidence of age discrimination. A lot of employers don't take that advice, however, they feel it's too cold to just fire with no reason. Those employers may become known as "the defendant."
BTW, the lawyer this woman consulted was right not to take the case. Now that she has come out and declared that she was fired for political reasons she has no case. If she had claimed that she was fired because she is a woman, she might have had a case. Now she can be a RAT martyr, but she won't win a lawsuit in AL.
Maybe John Edwards will represent her! He seems to love helping such challenged people.
Maybe the company is just trying to get her lard @ss off of their insurance policy and this is just a good excuse.
See the link in #96.
"(5) any citizen because he is or has been, or in order to intimidate such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion or national origin, in any of the benefits or activities described in subparagraphs (1)(A) through (1)(E) or subparagraphs (2)(A) through (2)(F), "or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate - shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation...xtra ajil time... "
c-BS
"typical dem doesn't even think about looking for another job....."
You read my mind.
You can explain why of course, w/o resorting to crack pipes.
Code for haven't got a clue? Post your reasons.
And she didn't even PAY for the sticker ;)
LOST HER JOB? i'D SAY THE DITZY BROAD GOT OFF EASY. iMAGINE THE STUPIDITY OF A KERRY STICKER IN THE SOUTH!
> I'm definitely NOT a Kerry supporter, but firing someone over a political sticker, democrat or republican, is a bit over the top. <
Yep. Whether it's legal or not, it's appalling to fire someone because they happen sport a bumper sticker that you disagree with.
Why do I have the feeling that it someone was fired for having an NRA sticker on their car, the amen chorus here would be frothing at the mouth in outrage.
She was fired for not removing the offensive material "the sticker" from the employer's property and was insolent about it.
Like John McCain for instance.
1) It's probably not true.
2) The First Amendment only guarantees that Congress has no authority to abridge freedom of speech. It says nothing about private individuals, who are entitled to fire anyone they want, any time, for any reason. Any law attempting to censure this employer for that reason is in fact abridging the employer's rights to free association, private property, and much else.
So, right you are about McCain, and wrong about this employer.
Hey, maybe she can get a job with the Kerry campaign. I hear they're hiring.
THe title of the Article, "Alabama woman says she lost job for sporting Kerry sticker on car" is an accusation of a fed crime. The employer now has to defend himself. I told you if I was a fed prosecutor, I'd look in to it. This sort of thing went on in the past a lot more than it does now. It was one of the rats favorite wways of operating. It's evil.
It looks like she is trying to set up a false termination claim. How is an employer supposed to defend against a lie in the public media. If they comment on the real reason she was fired they have real liability.
Let her have her unemployment check and 15 minutes. The lawyer was smart not to talk to the media. If she does sue, her employer need only demonstrate a legit reason for her termination and she is toast. She can be held liable for all court costs and if the claim is deemed frivilous her AND HER LAWYER can be held for attorney's fees.
Is her state a right to work state?
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