"Signing a release, separation agreement, severance agreement or similar document may waive these rights and bar you from enforcing your legal rights, so it is important to understand the rights you may be waiving,'' the firm says on GannettLayoffs.com.Minnillo & Jenkins is at least the second law firm that has shown particular interest in Gannett and labor law, including possible violations of wage and hour regulations. Note: I'm not endorsing either firms' work.
Attorney: Cincy laid off my wife
After this post went up, several readers accused me of promoting a law firm trying to make money off the misery of Gannett employees. Now, an attorney at the firm, Erik Laursen, has jumped in.
"My wife was just laid off by The Cincinnati Enquirer,'' he writes, in a comment. "I also worked as a journalist before becoming a lawyer. As my wife asked me questions about her severance, I thought that she can't be the only person with questions. This is why, after careful consideration, we chose to focus some of our efforts toward Gannett employees."
Ethics 101 -- Commercial interests
There's an interesting debate in this post's comments section, over the ethics of my posting anything about law firms soliciting business from unhappy current and former employees. Join in; you'll be glad you did!
Please post your replies in the comments section, below. To e-mail confidentially, write gannettblog[at]gmail[dot-com]; see Tipsters Anonymous Policy in the green sidebar, upper right.
what a bunch of sleeze bags....capitalizing on the misfortunes of others.And Jim jumping on board to echo the sleeze.
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear, 7:07 pm: As I said earlier this year when the first law firm popped up, I'm not endorsing any attorney's efforts to investigate Gannett.
ReplyDeleteI post this for the same reason I post anything on this blog: So employees have as much information about their options as they plan their futures.
Look, you can find sleazeball law firms wiling to try to put together nonsense lawsuits for pretty much any reason. They will promise you the moon and deliver you Moon Pie (after they take their cut by extorting a company out of some money, but less money than a lawsuit would cost).
ReplyDeleteDon't take the bait. If you think you have a labor law case for some reason, find a real lawyer.
With older workers being laid off and younger people being hired almost immediately to fill those same jobs, mightn't there be some sort of age discrimination going on?
ReplyDeleteI think we have a great class action suit here on violations of wage and hour laws and overtime. If we put together a conspiracy case, we can get Corporate on racketeering charges, which bring triple damages. We need documentation of overtime violations or being ordered to work extra time without compensation. The lawyers typically take a third of the settlement in these cases, but get nothing if the suit is unsuccessful. Let's get the greedy bastards.
ReplyDeleteDo you people think Gannett has not covered their ass every way possible to protect any and every law in these lay offs? Don't be fooled by sleezy lawyers. Geez...Jim. I agree with the earlier comment. we have lost enough with our incomes gone. Now you try to entice people to hire a sleazy law firm who is capitilizing on our grief? salt in the wound If I want a lawye, I'll get some recommendations. this is a bottom feeder firm. nd you post them here?
ReplyDeleteI thought you were on our side?Bottom feeders. Gross.
Jim, Mr. "righteous" just gave a law firm free advertising on his blog. I could see it if they were legit. They are trying to make money on us poor souls.
ReplyDeleteJim, not cool.
9:41 and 9:44 pm: When a law firm sets up a website targeting laid-off Gannett employees, that is news. And I report any and all news that relates to the company.
ReplyDeleteI'll also point out a couple of things. This Cincinnati law firm did not tell me about its GannettLayoffs.com website. Instead, I learned about it when a reader sent me a link to ANOTHER website that had already written about it.
Finally, the No. 1 complaint I get from readers concerns unpaid overtime -- a major violation of federal and state laws. It is a subject of high interest, so I look for any opportunity to write about it.
Based on the Code of Professional Conduct, I believe I have to say that this is "ADVERTISING MATERIAL."
ReplyDeleteHello. I am a lawyer from Minnillo & Jenkins. My wife was just laid off by the Cincinnati Enquirer. I also worked as a journalist before becoming a lawyer. As my wife asked me questions about her severance, I thought that she can't be the only person with questions. This is why, after careful consideration, we chose to focus some of our efforts toward Gannett employees. We researched the ethical rules regarding advertising. We considered not advertising at all. In the end we concluded that we would try to help people who wanted legal assistance.
I'm sorry to see that some commenters have decided to consider the GannettLayoffs.com website the act of a "sleeze bag[]" law firm. Our firm represents individuals in civil rights and employment actions. We also,as noted by Mr. Hopkins in his post, provide bankruptcy services to debtors.
I firmly believe that anyone who has questions regarding their layoff should consult someone with expertise in the field of labor law. A person may need help. A person may not.
Good luck to everyone during this trying time. Thanks for reading.
Erik Laursen
Minnillo & Jenkins, Co. LPA
Cincinnati, Ohio
Gannett has been sued for age discrimination more than once in the past.
ReplyDeleteThe law firm handling virtually all employee lawsuits in the last five years against Enq is Freking and Betz -- probably best employment law firm in city.
ReplyDelete