Apple's Former Keynote Address Producer Files Suit Claiming Steve Jobs Promised Lifetime Position

[dontwalkhand]

The Cook-occolypse begins

 

[KPOM]

Sucks that American labor laws are disgusting like that. Fired for no reason? In any well run country this would never happen.

Actually, it's called "labor flexibility" and is a big reason why our unemployment has generally been lower than other countries (this recession included). Over the last decade, Germany and Sweden have actually made it easier to let go of workers (though still not as easy as in most states in the US).

 

[celavato]

If he doesn't have that in writing with Steve's signature, I doubt he will have any standing. A one-on-one conversation with no witnesses and half of the conversation a dead person, isn't going to hold up in court very well.

Actually, because Steve Jobs cannot be called as a witness makes it likely the court will allow it into evidence. Normally, such a statement would be barred by the hearsay rule. As to whether the judge or jury believe it is another story.

 

[416049]

I wonder, if apple was less successful and the stocks were of less value, if he would still be trying to get a lawsuit out of it, he produced some great keynotes in the past great but, doing something good in the past doesn't necessarily mean your future is 100% safe.

 

[rcappo]

Steve Jobs's presentations were something amazing, and I have to give this guy credit for helping to create them. He has helped sell millions of dollars worth of products through the keynote address format getting product information out there.

How many of you have listened to a one hour infomercial about other company's products? Multiple times a year?

 

[KCMichaelB]

That's funny, my first wife promised me the same thing.

 

[Veinticinco]

Reading between the lines, this guy was possibly hugely disliked by colleagues and I imagine there was possibly a large HR file on him. But he possibly sailed by under the protective wing of Jobs, and judging by the lawsuit, possibly wasn't shy about advertising the fact he had the boss' ear. I've met these types before, with delusions of grandeur just because they do a functionary job directly for the big cheese.

Jobs passes away, and after a month or two, Apple see the opportunity to clean house, put together a severance package and make this guy redundant. I'm certain he wasn't the only one.

CEO's change and hitching your wagon to one, no matter how powerful, is inherently risky. This guy would have better served his livelihood by seeking further employment, and I wonder if he has proof he's tried to mitigate his losses in the past 8 months?

Lifetime guarantee really meant "as long as I'm in charge".

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That's funny, my first wife promised me the same thing.

'Til death do you part

The lifetime position she was referring to was a financial one. Alimony's a bitch, as they say...

 

[CTYankee]

His legal case may or may not be strong, but you better believe his attorney will have one drop dead awesome Keynote to make his case!

 

[cgk.emu]

So, sticking the phrase "world's most valuable company" is a thing now?

It's a fact. They are, so what's the problem?

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Oh I read it and again, this is hearsay. People are speaking for a dead man, that's quite easy ... don't you think?

Sure it is easy. Look at all the folks on here saying "Steve would NEVER do... *insert something the poster personally disagrees with here*

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The Cook-occolypse begins

Can you define that?

 

[damage00]

He should've known his was coming...

...when they moved his desk to the basement and took away his favorite stapler.

 

[wikus]

Actually, it's called "labor flexibility" and is a big reason why our unemployment has generally been lower than other countries (this recession included). Over the last decade, Germany and Sweden have actually made it easier to let go of workers (though still not as easy as in most states in the US).

Uh, no, your unemployment rate is ridiculously high. In countries where labor laws benefit the EMPLOYEE rather than the corporate pig, employment rate is low, ie; Norway sitting at 3%

Your statement is completely false.

 

[KPOM]

Uh, no, your unemployment rate is ridiculously high. In countries where labor laws benefit the EMPLOYEE rather than the corporate pig, employment rate is low, ie; Norway sitting at 3%

Your statement is completely false.

Your statement is completely false.

Spain, which has labor laws that supposedly benefit the EMPLOYEE has an unemployment rate of 25%.

Norway is a tiny country sitting on a pile of oil. The unemployment rate is also 3% in North Dakota, which is also a tiny economy sitting on big reserve of natural gas and oil and is a right to work state on top of it (meaning labor unions are weak).

Remember, the employer creates the jobs whenever they make the decision to hire. They don't have to hire anyone. Laws that "protect" the employee have a cost. While they may be laudable social goals, don't pretend they are "free." It makes it more expensive for the employer to hire someone, which also makes it less likely that someone will be employed in the first place.

In general, the US has historically had a lower real unemployment rate than most European countries (comparing raw rates is difficult because some countries, like Denmark, count people on welfare as "employed," and even the US excludes "discouraged" workers). The current recovery is ridiculously slow worldwide, but even here the US economy is performing comparatively well compared to most of Europe. It's time to stop demonizing employers.

 

[gnasher729]

Why would you be surprised? If it so hard to prove when it does happen that leaves CEOs free to make it as an empty promise since they wont have to be legally liable for it.

Well, if the CEO of my company promised me lifetime employment face to face with no witnesses, I would ask him "can I ask soandso to write that down", and he would either say "yes" and an hour later I would have it in writing with his signature, or he would say "no". Either way, I would not rely on a promise.

 

[gbnz]

Better call Saul.

A criminal... brilliant!

 

[KPOM]

It's a fact. They are, so what's the problem?

But attaching the "they are the world's most valuable company" line the way I've seen it here implies that the normal rules somehow don't apply to them. I.e. people seem to think that because they are the world's most valuable company, they should keep people on who they don't think deserve jobs, or should sell products at a lower cost, or incur higher manufacturing costs by moving production here.

 

[koruki]

The worlds more valuable company whose still growing firing someone just like that? It doesn't add up, I'm gonna guess Mr Goodrich got a bit cocky cause he thinks no matter what he does, his job is safe. Apple's got better things to do then to fire people no good reason, and for a bit of stock options? I doubt it.

 

[Jiten]

In countries where labor laws benefit the EMPLOYEE rather than the corporate pig

Oh please. yet you use a computer made by an American corporation to post this message. I'm willing to bet most of the conveniences of modern life you enjoy come from these corporate pigs.

 

[cgk.emu]

But attaching the "they are the world's most valuable company" line the way I've seen it here implies that the normal rules somehow don't apply to them. I.e. people seem to think that because they are the world's most valuable company, they should keep people on who they don't think deserve jobs, or should sell products at a lower cost, or incur higher manufacturing costs by moving production here.

It doesn't imply anything. If you had a point, you should have made it originally.

 

[KPOM]

It doesn't imply anything. If you had a point, you should have made it originally.

Used in the context I've seen it, it usually is meant as an inference. "How come the world's most valuable company can't keep this guy hired?"

 

[rosababey]

I was thinking just the same

 

[kiljoy616]

Children, children if there is precedence for this kind of loyalty reward from Steve and he can show only reason he was fired was to not pay out some measly millions then he has a very good chance of having a nice settlement.

Don't forget to flip those burgers.

 

[nws0291]

Does anyone know the value of the RSUs he lost by being fired. If he was fired so they wouldn't have to pay those out and not because of anything else he might have a shot. Those RSUs from 2008 could be worth millions for an executive grant.

 

[AppleDroid]

Nothing new here. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people terminated, released or laid off just months away from retirement so the company doesn't have to pay. It's not unusual at all....especially in these difficult economic times when the job market is bad....companies abuse their employees, take benefits away, reduce pay, don't give raises, extend working hours.

All while making record profits, becoming the worlds most valuable stock and having little to no competition in two markets for profits? Yes very bad economy when it comes to corporations (especially Apple.)

 

[charlituna]

I suspect he does have it in writing, video or voice recording, etc.

Or he doesn't. I doubt Steve would allow himself to be recorded and in Cali (if not simply the US) that is the end of that. If it was in writing, Apple would have been slapped down by the state labor office and this wouldnt require a lawsuit.

I suspect he went to say office, they rejected his claim but were willing to declare it no ruling so he could go to court (required by the state and the courts) and thus he is.

Or if he has something in writing it doesn't say what he claims it does.

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I doubt Jobs would of put this in writing. This case will be thrown out pretty quickly. If this guy is as good as he thinks..why would he care..he should have plenty of job offers.

More like he would have put it in writing, he was to stupid about the ways of the law etc. if he thought this guy was so awesome he'd make sure the man was properly protected

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The guy had been doing his job and doing it exceptionally well for 14 years, then they let him to go so they don't have to pay him stock options that he was promised? Crappy. :/

he says. Doesn't make it true. He could have been a non contract employee who decided after Steve's death to start showing up for work late all the time. Or perhaps he was missing deadlines or his work quality dropped off and others were having to clean up his stuff to make it presentation worthy. Or maybe Tim wanted things done different and the man was giving push back because it wasn't Steve's style. Those kinds of things are performance issues that could lead to someone no longer being needed and of he was 'at will' without a defined and signed contract or proof if this oral one, it's totally legal.

That the guy was a year or less from a huge stock option doesn't really matter unless he can prove 100% that that was the only reason he was let go. And let's face it,with as much money as Apple has would that payout really hurt them. Probably not

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I understand Cook does presentations differently than Steve but if this is true Cook should have honored Steve's wishes and given the guy a different job within Apple.

For all we know, he tried that. Especially if part of the issue was personal style conflicts. Perhaps this gentleman felt he should be kept in his current role and said he'd rather leave, gambling on whether he would win. And he didn't. But he's not telling that part

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This "contract" does not have to be in writing under the statute of frauds because it conceivably could have lasted less than a year. However, that does not mean there are some other employment laws in CA that control in this situation.

The major one being that outside of a verified contract you are 'at will' and be dismissed for with no reason having to be given at any time. 'no longer needed'is valid. And unless you can prove something illegal like sexual harassment it will stick. Most companies will back up the dismissal with something like attendance policy violations to avoid suits but they don't have to. According to my sources that (in their opinion) twit Cory Moll started his Retail Worker Union stuff so he can always claim that is why Apple fired him, which would be illegal, so unless they can get him on something solid like stealing, he's untouchable.

Even in the TV industry my written contract has clauses that my position will be terminated with no further payment owned if the show I am working on is cancelled. The actors have the same with additional clauses that they can be written out at any time if the writers choose to take the show in a direction that no longer requires that persons character. And again unless one of us can prove that it was something else, like an actress refusing to blow the guest director, it will stick

 

[darkplanets]

Nice argument, but it has one flaw: Apple is at its all-time height. The company never did better than now. So there is no excuse. At least not the one that you wrote down.

More than likely it had absolutely nothing to do with economics or fiscal success, despite his claims. His termination likely was a result of poor performance or some other detriment. Bottom line is this: no one will remove a good employee while under a good financial environment, which Apple more than qualifies as such.

This guy was probably terminated for some legitimate reason beyond his "claims" that HR probably has filed away under his performance management plan. Any company worth their weight in salt has this covered. If it was a legitimate claim the Office of Labor would have squashed it already.

As far as I'm concerned it's not even assumed that he actually has a signed contract stating lifetime employment -- the probability of that is nill.