Doyle LLP Vs. Republic Manufacturing Group INC. d/b/a Republic Bag Co. and Alpha Industries Management Inc. d/b/a Republic Bag Co: Wrongful Termination

Doyle LLP filed suit in August of 2020 in Harris County District Court under the Texas Labor Code against Republic Manufacturing Group INC. d/b/a Republic Bag Co. and Alpha Industries Management Inc. d/b/a Republic Bag Co. The suit alleges that Republic Bag Co. retaliated with discrimination against Doyle LLP’s client and then fired her after she filed a workers’ compensation claim.

Texas workers have certain rights after suffering an injury in the course and scope of their employment. Under Texas law, an injured worker who reports and files a workers’ compensation claim and/or seeks benefits, including medical treatment, is entitled to protection under Texas Labor Code § 451.001. This is the law that the suit alleges Republic Bag Co. violated.

According to the legal filing, Republic Bag Co. knew of our client’s compensable on the job injury. Republic Bag Co. responded to the employee’s report of injury by first harassing and then firing her, fabricating various pretextual grounds for wrongfully and maliciously firing Doyle LLP’s client as a result of her on the job injury and resulting claim for lawful benefits. Republic Bag Co. retaliated and terminated the injured worker because Doyle LLP’s client filed an on the job injury claim, sought worker’s compensation benefits, and instituted a proceeding or caused to be instituted a proceeding under the Texas Worker’s Compensation laws, including reporting that she suffered an injury to her employer under Texas Labor Code § 409.001

Texas’ workers’ compensation laws, including Texas Labor Code Section 451.001, provide a cause of action for discriminatory misconduct and retaliation against a worker injured on the job. Doyle LLP’s client was a loyal and hard-working employee of Republic Bag Co., who was injured while working on the job on or about April 15, 2020. Doyle LLP’s client was retrieving a roll of bags from a machine as she frequently did before, but the machine pulled her right hand, resulting in injuries to her left middle finger, back, neck, arm, and body generally. The employee reported this work injury to her employer and received medical treatment, as permitted by Texas workers’ compensation laws. By making that report to her supervisor and employer as required by Texas Labor Code § 409.001, the injured worker instituted a proceeding under the Texas Workers’ Compensation laws, as protected by Texas Labor Code § 451.001.

In response to her report of injury and treatment as protected by Texas Labor Code § 451.001 Doyle LLP’s client faced discriminatory actions from Republic Bag Co. and was ultimately wrongfully fired on or about June 15, 2020. Employers such as Republic Bag Co. are prohibited from firing or otherwise discriminating against employees for filing workers’ compensation claims, as identified in both Texas Labor Code §451.001 or 29 U.S.C § 215. Doyle LLP’s client did not receive the proper protections or rights guaranteed under the Texas Labor Code for injured workers, but was met ultimately with retaliatory and discriminatory firing from her job.

If you have suffered from discrimination, retaliation, termination, or firing after reporting a work place injury to your employer, filing workers’ compensation claim, or other protected actions please contact us. Texas employees, including you, may have the right to pursue a claim against your employer under the Texas Labor Code or Fair Labor Standards Act. The lawyers at Doyle LLP have decades of experience in representing injured workers under these laws. Doyle LLP Trial attorneys will ensure you receive the utmost care and we will fight all the way for what you deserve. Our attorneys have decades of successful trial experience and can lend that expertise to you. For a no-cost evaluation of your potential legal claim, contact the lawyers at Doyle LLP.

Doyle LLP Vs. Michael McCreery d/b/a B-Mac Company: Wrongful Termination

Texas employers often tell their employees that they are working “at will” as a means to suggest Texas employers are free at any time to take any action against an employee, including firing them. However, Texas law has various protections for injured workers, including Texas Labor Code, Section 451.001. The protections and legal analysis of a potential wrongful termination or discrimination claim does not stop there and includes various protections for employees injured while on the job.

Specifically, the Texas Labor Code forbids an employer from wrongfully terminating or retaliating against an employee for initiating and/or filing a workers’ compensation claim. Based upon this law, Doyle LLP has recently filed suit against Michael McCreery d/b/a B-Mac Company. Doyle LLP’s client was a loyal and hard-working employee of B-Mac company who on or about August 21,2018 sustained a lifting injury to his neck and back while working on the job. Doyle LLP’s client reported this injury to his superiors and employer as is required for Texas workplace injuries. Texas employees who are injured while performing their work duties are granted certain protections for workers’ compensation. Under Texas law, a workers’ compensation claim is the primary way that Texas workers’ receive benefits, including medical and income benefits after they are injured at work. Without these protections and benefits guaranteed under the Texas Labor Code, Texas workers would have to fend for themselves after an injury they sustained on the job that may impair their ability to continue work in the near future or long-term.

After Doyle LLP’s client suffered the work injury and reported it to his employer he was met with hostility, harassment and ultimately terminated on or about September 28,2018. Simply pursuing a workers’ compensation claim for an on the job injury under Texas law cannot be met with negative actions or termination. Doyle LLP has filed suit on behalf of this injured worker to protect his right against wrongful termination under the Texas Labor Code. The suit seeks lost wages, future lost earning capacity, mental anguish damages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages arising from the wrongful firing.

Doyle LLP’s lawyers strongly believe in the importance of protecting injured workers, who suffer from retaliation or discrimination. Nobody should lose their job or face further repercussions for simply doing their job and what is legally allowed of them after a workplace injury. If you have been the victim or workplace discrimination or wrongful termination, call us today for a no-cost initial evaluation of your potential legal rights and remedies.

Doyle LLP Vs. DISA Global Solutions Inc, DISA Holdings Corp, University MRO LLC, University Services LLC, and Pyschemedics Corporation

The attorneys at Doyle LLP Trial Lawyers have dedicated decades of their legal careers developing and refining their skills to protect workers throughout the United States. Texas law, similar to all states, provides specific protections to workers who suffer from retaliation, termination, or firing by their employer. Businesses and the economy do not run without the hard work of millions of Americans, and when they face discrimination and termination at work, they deserve to know what protections, benefits, and remedies are available to them.

Due to Doyle LLP’s vast experience in Texas courts, Doyle LLP was hired to file suit against DISA Global Solutions Inc, DISA Holdings Corp, University MRO LLC, University Services LLC, and Pyschemedics Corporation for various alleged violations and negligence regarding Federal and State business practices. DISA Global Solutions is a foreign corporation doing business in Harris County, Texas where their headquarters are located. DISA Global Solutions is a third-party administrator for drug testing for companies working in the upstream and downstream energy sector. University MRO LLC and University Services LLC are both wholly owned entities of DISA who aid in their completion of work. Psychemedics is a foreign corporation with headquarters in Massachusetts and operating as a hair drug testing company throughout the United States, including Harris County, Texas. The suit was filed in Harris County District Court in Houston, Texas.

DISA Global Solutions and their entities control over the management and administration of drug testing for virtually the entire upstream and downstream energy sector. DISA completely controls the drug testing process from collection to laboratory analysis. DISA determines who is selected for drug testing, what kind of drug test is performed, when employees should be drug tested, and mandates and controls how an employee is tested. DISA then sends the specimens to Psychemedics for processing before the report is sent the Medical Review Office of University Services, a DISA entity. DISA exclusively utilizes University Services, an entity wholly owned by DISA, to provide services as the Medical Review Office(“MRO”). University Services is then responsible for receiving and reviewing laboratory results for the drug testing program and evaluating medical explanations for certain drug test results. DISA maintains the final decision whether to accept the drug test result or reject it. DISA also decides and controls under which a contractor employee member may request a re-analysis of his or her original specimen. Thus, DISA through its contracts and agreements virtually controls all aspects regarding to drug testing for the upstream and downstream energy sector.

This suit was filed against Defendants regarding their collection, testing, reporting, administration, mismanagement and dissemination of a false positive drug test result on or about November 5, 2018. Prior to Defendants’ improper conduct, Doyle LLP’s client worked in the oil and gas industry for approximately 10 years. During this period, they were tested multiple times and never tested positive for illegal drug use. As part of pre-employment screening for a new job in the energy industry, Doyle LLP’s client was sent to DISA Gulf Coast Service Center to take a urine and hair follicle drug test on or about November 5, 2018. The Defendant then inaccurately concluded Doyle LLP’s client tested positive for an illegal drug. The result simply was inaccurate and incorrect. Doyle LLP’s client did not and does not use illegal drugs. During the same time period, Doyle LLP’s client was under the continued medical care related to a high-risk pregnancy, and as part of this treatment, the client never tested positive for any illegal drugs. Since the false positive test result, Doyle LLP’s client has continued to receive drug tests and repeatedly confirmed that they do not take illegal drugs.

The Defendants as a result of the false positive placed Doyle LLP’s client’s name into both DISA’s and Pyschemedics’ drug testing databases. These misrepresentations and false statements have barred Doyle LLP’s client from obtaining employment with oil and gas industry employers who either have agreed to use DISA for their drug testing or companies with zero tolerance drug testing program. As a result of its conduct, Defendants have embarrassed and humiliated Doyle LLP’s client and completely blackballed them from working in the oil and gas industry. Defendants actions caused Doyle LLP’s client to suffer serious economic and noneconomic harm, including irreparable damage to the client’s reputation and loss of employment. In addition, Defendants have harmed Doyle LLP Client’s employment prospects, ruined their reputation, resulted in substantial emotional and financial distress, and destroyed the client’s standing in the community.

Doyle LLP, on behalf of their client, is pursuing compensation for harm done by the Defendants. Doyle LLP’s client suffered mental anguish, and of reasonable probability will continue to suffer mental anguish in the future, past and future reputational harm, past and future lost wages, and damages generally. Our lawyers are proud to represent workers against employers who refuse to follow the law and do not respect the rights of their employees. In this case the Defendants allegedly had actual, subjective awareness of the risk involved with their behavior, but nevertheless continued with coconscious indifference to the rights, safety, or welfare of Doyle LLP’s client.

Workplace safety is incredibly important, but more important is the standards companies have regarding measuring it. Companies need to know that the protections and safeguards they have in place actually work. In this case, it is alleged the Defendants did not ensure those safeguards and protections worked properly and as a result seriously harmed Doyle LLP’s client. The attorneys at Doyle LLP proudly and fervently support their clients in pursuing the justice they deserve. If you have experienced discrimination or wrongful termination, call us for a free evaluation of your potential legal claim.

Ball v Alleyton Judgement Affirmed by Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals

On June 3rd, 2021 The Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed a $1.7 million dollar judgement in favor of Doyle LLP’s client Joseph Ball against Alleyton Resource Company LLC. Doyle LLP’s team of attorneys in Ball v. Alleyton Resource Company LLC had successfully presented the case to a Fort Bend County District Court Jury who on July 26,2019 awarded Mr. Ball with $1,706,187 in damages, including $164,168 in past wages, $675,519 in future lost wages, $100,000 in past mental anguish, $16,500 in future mental anguish, and $750,000 in punitive damages. The judgement also will come with a substantial amount of interest owed on the $1.7 million dollar judgement over the last couple years. The jury found that Alleyton Resources retaliated and wrongfully terminated Mr. Ball for instituting procedures under the Texas Worker’s Compensation Act.

Doyle LLP’s client drove a ready-mix concrete truck and worked for Alleyton for nearly a decade. After suffering a workplace injury, Mr. Ball instituted worker’s compensation proceedings. As a result, Doyle LLP’s client was fired. Doyle LLP’s team presented evidence in the prior trial that Alleyton Resource Company LLC violated its internal policies, concealed the reason for Ball’s termination, contradicted its basis for the firing, and failed to timely and accurately document the termination.

The Fourteenth Court of Appeals found no error in the previous jury trial and their final judgement in Ball v Alleyton. It further rejected Alleyton’s arguments such as that the admissible evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury’s findings that Alleyton terminated Ball because he had instituted a proceeding under the Texas workers’ compensation statute. Alleyton also asserted that a trial court abused its discretion when it admitted the claims diary into evidence over a hearsay objection, but this argument too was rejected by the Appeals Court. Furthermore, Alleyton in their appeal objected to the jury’s exemplary damages award and its inability to offer certain instructions in the jury charge. The Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals further rejected these arguments in upholding the prior judgement in favor of Doyle LLP’s client.

Doyle LLP’s client will now be owed not only the initial $1.7 million dollar judgement but also significant interest earned on that amount as well. Doyle LLP’s team of experienced trial attorneys and staff are proud of their work once again in helping their clients receive adequate compensation and financial support after a life changing work accident. Doyle LLP is proud of their track record in not just this case but the hundreds of cases over previous decades successfully pursued by our team. If you suffer a workplace injury then are retaliated against as a result, please contact the experienced trial attorneys at Doyle LLP to help you pursue the justice you deserve. Our team is eager to continue fighting for clients we believe in their quest for justice. Call today and schedule a free consultation with our team of experienced trial attorneys!

Doyle Dennis LLP Hires New Attorney

Doyle Dennis LLP is pleased to announce that Emma Brockway has joined the firm as an Associate Attorney. Emma joined the firm as a Law Clerk during her first summer in law school. While working for Doyle Dennis LLP, she discovered her passion for helping individuals and returned to work at the firm every subsequent year.

Since joining Doyle Dennis LLP as an Associate Attorney, Emma has zealously advocated for employees, including health care workers, who were wrongfully fired or otherwise retaliated against by their employers. Her practice also includes representing individuals in insurance bad faith cases, civil rights litigation, and general personal injury lawsuits. Emma received her B.A. in English from Texas State University and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

Doyle Dennis LLP is proud to welcome Emma to the firm.

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