By On behalf of The Law Offices of Roderick V. Hannah, Esq., P.A.
A former VFW Florida Paramedic of the Year said he was wrongfully fired not just once, but two times. The man, who has been on the force for 17 years, said he was the victim of wrongful termination first because of a pharmaceutical misunderstanding. The second termination came after he attempted to negotiate terms for reinstatement with the county.
Official reports say that the man was first terminated because of the results of a drug test. On the advice of his physician, the man had consumed prescription medication that belonged to his wife. He knew he was going to fail the drug test, so he disclosed the situation. He said he was subject to wrongful discharge at that time, but the laboratory that analyzed his sample eventually reversed its decision. Additional information from the man’s physician reportedly exonerated him, and he was scheduled for reinstatement.
The man wanted his employer to pay for the $6,000 in legal fees that had accumulated thanks to the misunderstanding, and he wanted assurance that he would not be subject to retaliation. The man’s attorney was reportedly negotiating with the county’s attorney when the paramedic received a second letter notifying him that his reinstatement had been rescinded because he did not show up for work. The letter from the county only indicated that he should contact the human resources department by Aug. 5, 2013; the man’s attorney did so for him. He was supposed to go to work on Aug. 18 based on an agreement. Now, the county argues that the man abandoned his position because he did not arrive on that date.
Employment law is not always easy to understand, especially when former employers make maneuvers that result in wrongful termination. Victims who have outstanding work histories but have been wrongly targeted may benefit from the assistance of a Florida employment attorney, who may be able to help them learn more about their legal rights.
Source: Highlands Today, “Honored paramedic fired” Gary Pinnell, Jan. 30, 2014
Source: http://www.rhannahlaw.com/blog/2014/02/honored-paramedic-claims-wrongful-termination—twice.shtml
