Law Firm Violated Layoff Notice Law for 700 Employees, Judge Rules
A federal judge has ruled that closure of Orlando-based Butler & Hosch law firm was illegal because executives knew it would close and didn’t warn employees in accordance with federal law, reports the Orlando Sentinel.
When the firm closed in 2015, about 700 employees in Dallas, Orlando, Miami, Tampa and other locations were told in a conference call that they would not be paid for their final three weeks at work, writes reporter Paul Brinkmann. Law requires 60-day notice of mass layoffs, but employees were told of the plan on the last day.
“If the company were still functioning, the law says it could be required to pay wages and benefits for 60 days to each employee, plus a fine totaling about $21 million — $500 per day per employee,” according to Brinkmann. But now that claim becomes part of the firm’s bankruptcy process.
