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Do I need an employment lawyer?
Anonymous7 views3 answers
In 2012 I was offered free daycare in leu of a raise at the childcare center where I worked. In 2015 I quit my job, as did my manager. The new manager along with the childcare committee is now suing me for the daycare I didn't pay. They are stating my manager did not have authorization to make this sort of offer.
Do I need a lawyer, and am I responsible to pay back the daycare charges?
If your former employer has actually filed suit against you for the childcare costs, it's very important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible. Failing to respond to the lawsuit can result in a judgment being entered against you for the full amount of the childcare costs. Whether your former employer can actually succeed in the lawsuit will depend on numerous factors. Was the agreement in writing? Did you receive any invoices? Did other employees receive the same benefit?
If you are in fact being sued, you should consult with an attorney. However, the amount you are being sued for may determine whether the costs of legal representation are warranted. Whether you are responsible for the daycare charges is a more complex question, and may depend on whether the manager had the legal authority to enter into such an agreement, and whether you were reasonable to believe the manager had the legal authority. Any documentation you can gather regarding the agreement, and that others knew of the agreement, would be helpful.
You should probably get a lawyer. You're being sued for crying out loud. At a minimum get a lawyer to go over the papers that have been filed so far and give you a broad overview of what is happening. Perhaps it is a small claims matter that you can handle on your own. Perhaps you are not actually being sued, and only received some official looking papers. Get a consult and figure out the preliminary stuff asap.
