Et Tu, Warren Buffett?
One of the fast growing types of employment claims is based on retaliation. Ordinarily, a former employee claims that he or she was fired in retaliation for claiming discrimination or harassment, blowing the whistle on illegal or unethical activity, etc. A former executive of a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary on the verge of being named CEO has sued BH and Warren Buffett for firing him after he reported various financial improprieties as he was getting ready to assume the CEO position.
Buffett has denied that the former employee reported to him any unethical, fraudulent or illegal activities. Of course, the employee’s lawsuit contains mere allegations at this point. It will be an interesting case to follow, however, given Buffett’s insistence on adherence to business ethics and his criticism of executives who stray from them.
The case is Mart v. Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., et al, 3:10-cv-00118, U.S. District Court, Northern Indiana. Stay tuned.
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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