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In the first quarter of 2007, my life took a major turn. I had just received a successful rating on my annual performance review with a leading international technology firm where I had spent over eleven years of my career. Eleven years of consistently increasing responsibility, international assignments and recognition as part of the "A Team" for major sales efforts throughout the company. My employer had established a strong culture of support for associates at all levels with an especially strong commitment of support for healthcare issues. After receiving my annual performance review for 2006, we agreed that I would transfer internally into a delivery team that I had worked with off and on over many years. Three weeks after receiving a successful review and one week after agreeing to an internal transfer, I was called into my managers office and informed that I was being "terminated for cause". The alleged cause - attendance and decreasing performance.
In the fall of 2000 I contracted HIV. I was living abroad working for one of the companies largest clients in London. A year later it became evident that I needed to return to the US to insure the level of healthcare treatment necessary as a result of my illness. After being back stateside and establishing a treatment regime that was stabilizing the effects of HIV on my body I began experiencing additional side effects. I fell into a deep depression which required regular visits to multiple doctors and a range of medicines to treat the effects thereof. The combination of the HIV meds with the depression brought on additional side effects including insomnia, gastro-intestinal problems and short term memory problems. Throughout this time I kept my management team apprised of the situation and asked repeatedly for assistance in accommodating my condition including the possibility of working from home, flex time and/or less stressful and demanding assignments.
As you can imagine, the facts are numerous and under the settlement agreement I cannot divulge additional information. However, I can say unequivocally that the team at the Drinnon Law Firm were there to support me throughout. I waited for a few months to make sure I had a clear picture of events and that I could communicate the most clear and concise view of events leading up to and following my termination. After meeting with attorneys at the Drinnon Law Firm, they agreed to take on my case. Through their leadership and direction, understanding of the issues, research and experience they were extremely effective at navigating the process including managing my expectations as to time frame, process and potential outcomes.
Stephen Drinnon and team were very effective in formally communicating with my ex-employer so as to follow the requisite timetables and processes necessary to file a wrongful termination lawsuit should it come to that. After numerous letters and conference calls, they were successful at initiating formal mediation so that we could attempt to resolve the issues fairly to all parties. Going into mediation, again as can be expected, the views of my former employer as to an acceptable settlement was significantly different than ours. After a day of meetings with a very professional and effective mediator that the Drinnon team recommended, we arrived at acceptable terms for a settlement. The professionalism, focus and command of the issues that the Drinnon Law Firm demonstrated throughout the process was instrumental in not only achieving a favorable outcome but also creating the environment in which a thorny business issue was addressed effectively without damaging the parties involved.
Thanks Stephen, Shelby & Elizabeth. For a very difficult business and personal issue, I couldn't have worked with a better team!
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