Allow me introduce myself. My handle is Python for a reason. It is a snake normally well behaved until someone crosses a line with it then it will squeese or crush the violater. That is what I intend to do with my exemployer! I have been watching the Forum for months and have absorbed Curt's postings. So I do not feel I am a new comer just someone coming off the sidelines. Several months ago my now exemployer started to play games with me to get me to quit. They were playing checkers but thanks to you guys I was playing chess. I could lay it all out for you but you should wait for the movie. I contacted the EEOC in mid. July by the end of July they sent me the CHARGE OF DISCRIMATION paperwork.( It was suitable for framing. It scared me.)Of course the next step was the Mediator. I was contacted over the phone and accepted mediation right then. The Mediator heard back two weeks later from the employer that they declined mediation. The Mediator informed me the case will go to enforcement for investigation. That it may take several months before the contact me so to be patient. Now it apears several of the employees I would have used to support my case have been forced to quit their jobs. If this stall for time and purging of my witnesses continues things will be more difficult to deal with. The case is solid. It would be nothing less then a gift to any Lawyer. So in short do I let EEOC handle the case in their time frame(cost of nothing to me.)or pay a Lawyer big bucks to move things along?
Undercover Lawyer Forum » Introduction
EEOC or Lawyer?
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Python
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Post Count: 14Posted 1 month ago # -
msliberated
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Post Count: 443Welcome Phyton(suitable name:))
Make sure you have all the information from all the co-workers. I too are in the same situation, waiting for EEOC feedback. I have been busy taking notes and taping my most impt. witnesses(with their consent of course) and I told each one of them that they will/might be contacted by the EEOC ivestigator-so they won't be surprised. Hang in there! You came to the right place for support.Posted 1 month ago # -
OnYourSide
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Post Count: 405Make sure you've got contact information for those former co-workers, Python.
Posted 1 month ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914Welcome to the forum Python. You sound like a shrewd and very perceptive person and you've done all the right things. I think it depends on how YOU want this to proceed. I live in Washington state. I filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission and that also initiates a complaint with the EEOC. The investigator at HRC was a lazy woman and only addressed a TINY portion of my complaint so not only did the HRC blow off my complaint but so did the EEOC based on the HRC investigators poor investigation. Rather than screw with the EEOC after reading posts from members of this forum on just how SLOWWWWWWWW the EEOC moves, I decided to retain an attorney and go forward with a lawsuit. I didn't want to wait a year or more for a right to sue letter from the EEOC and then upwards of a year to sue the state of Washington (I worked for the state for almost 25 years). It wouldn't hurt to find a good employment attorney and do an initial consultation so he could tell you how strong of a case you have. Then, make your decision from that consultation.
Posted 1 month ago # -
OnYourSide
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Post Count: 405The EEOC is inundated with complaints right now, and they're cherrypicking the biggest and best "newsworthy" cases to go after - the big busts. If you're small potatoes, you'll wait forever but it won't cost you anything. If your case has class action possibilities the EEOC will sit up and take notice.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Python
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Post Count: 14I will literlly never work in this town again after filing my EEOC charges. Every business in town has friends and/or relatives within each other. I have a case that a brain dead hamster on life support could win(Hell! maybe even the EEOC). Are or have any of you gone to court with the EEOC? Or are we all just going to get a right to sue letter after a couple of years? Do I just bag a great EEOC case and give half the money to a lawyer or what?
Posted 1 month ago # -
Recovering
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Post Count: 309Python,
"A brain dead hamster on life support" could win it, you stated. I know it seems this way and should be this way when there is obvious laws broken and plenty of proof to back you, the thing is though if you've been reading case law all over the United states you read about cases where it should have been a clear win for the plaintiff and YET ,some technicality or Judge perceived technical jargon different, its a battle for sure and have been shocked at what I have read , to include as in another post DAMAGE CAPS that even IF the plaintiff wins they have still LOST , ended up owing more to the IRS then they even recovered , sadly this is true and as stated before would love to hear of a case where this did not happen and the victim actually was restored with their good name ,new rules and front/back pay and Attorney fee's covered and didn't end up owing the IRS more then they were awarded !
THAT is SCARY and I don't want to scare any here I am in the SAME BOAT as the rest of you, but its a REALITY that must be faced, none the less.
I would personally love to hear your story Python , you slinked your way in here so quietly and BAM through me for a loop , please expound if you can or will , no names or anything just something for us to ponder on is all .
Thanks and look forward to hearing more of your story ,because there are some brilliant minds here that can brainstorm together and HAVE to help others.
Posted 1 month ago # -
Recovering
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Post Count: 309THREW
Posted 1 month ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914I guess that I am *lucky* in the fact that even though I live in a small town where it seems like everyone is related to each other or best buddies with each other, EVERYONE seems to know what a hostile office I used to work in and just about everyone has nothing good to say about my ex-sup. I think that they only people that like her is her mom and grandmother. I think her husband is *afraid* of her and what she would do to him if he doesn't keep kissing her ass.......
Posted 1 month ago # -
Python
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Post Count: 14EEOC or Lawyer? WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE? Short and simple.
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
Recovering
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Post Count: 309LAWYER
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914LAWYER was my best choice. I didn't have the time or patience for dealig with the EEOC.
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
SusieQ2U
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Post Count: 3So do you'all have lawyers who are working on a contingency basis? cause the only one here in town charges $180 retainer fee...and then $180 an hour.
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
msliberated
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Post Count: 443WOW!...SusieQ where I am at it's 200-220 per hour. But keep looking for those who are for contngency basis. The ones who quote you $$$$ are the ones you shouls avoid if possible.
Posted 4 weeks ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914I had to pay a retainer and then the rest is on contingency. This was after my attorney gave me two free initial consultations that both lasted close to 2 hours each (or over $800.00 in free time with him).
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
msliberated
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Post Count: 443There....That sounds fair enough, did you find him from "that" website lulu? Retainer and contingency not 180-220 per hour!?......>> That's just rediculous. We are victims of workplace harassment then we will also get robbed by "them"?(no offense UCL)we know you're not(grin)
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914Yes, my attorney is on that website. Also, another attorney on that website highly recommended him to me. That attorney was an employer attorney rather than an employee attorney.
Posted 3 weeks ago # -
Python
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Post Count: 14Those of you that went with a Lawyer. How are you utilizing them? Have you moved to the right to sue mode? Or are they working with the EEOC?
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
littlelulu
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Post Count: 2914No, my attorney filed two Tort Claims (a pre-requisite to suing the state) - the first prior to my being fired for disability discrimination and the second for unlawful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. With Tort Claims, you have to wait at least 60 days for the state to respond (which they DON'T) and then you can file the lawsuit.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
casper
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Post Count: 3Python, I think you _have_ to file with the EEOC or your States Human Rights commission before you can sue privately, for any claim under the the EEOC or the States protect? Ask any atty for an intial consultation. After a period of 60-90 days I was told by the EEOC intake officer that I could ask for my "right to sue" letter, but I've decided to endure the long process as in my case my company I believe would be more responsive to the EEOC than a private atty.
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
Python
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Post Count: 14casper, I did file with the EEOC in July. I was told it would be several months before I heard from an Investagtor. I am two hours from any employment atty. I kind of am thinking in your direction with the company being more responsive to the EEOC than a private atty. But the wait for the EEOC to even start investigating is kind of a let down. Thanks for your thoughts on this. Any one else?
Posted 2 weeks ago #
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