November 2010

The federal government has settled a case against a longtime San Antonio medical group.  Kellum Family Medical Practice Associates was accused of falsely billing the federal government.  The lawsuit, a qui tam lawsuit, also known as a whistle blower lawsuit, started when a former employee claimed the Kellum clinic submitted false bills for medicare and…

On this day of thanks, I ask that we think about 150,000 Americans serving in Afghanistan and 50,000 serving in Iraq.  They work everyday.  They risk their lives everyday for us.  Some of us may question the value of the two wars.  Some soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors might agree.  But, they serve all the…

Yes, you can be fired for reasons beyond your control.  I tell that to potential clients all the time, but they do not seem to believe me, sometimes.  One man, Sam Salazar, dated a woman for two years before they broke up.  He started caling her so often at work that she was fired.  He…

Its hard to believe, I know, but some people do not like lawyers much.  One man has been wearing a pig costume and protesting in front of the state bar headquarters in Austin.  See post.  He says he wants the rules changed so that "arbitration" (apparently meaning mediation) comes before discovery. He says he…

Forbes magazine offers us examples of things we should not say at work.  See Forbes article. Topics to avoid include sex, religion and politics, of course.  These are topics that can get folks riled up easily.  A thoughtless comment, seemingly harmless banter can linger.  According to one survey, only one-third of senior managers felt comfortable…

 If you are going to quit, get ready.  Clear your office of embarrassing computer files, personal papers and anything else you want to keep.  As the ABA Bar Journal advises lawyers, once you resign, your employer may very likely escort you out of the office immediately with nothing more than a promise to send your…

Iowa passed a law recently requiring employers to give veterans Veterans Day off.  The leave can be unpaid.  See post.  The new law has some exceptions for public safety workers and major disruptions to employers.  But, the idea seems pertinent to today.  

I myself worked for an employer where Veterans Day was not…

 A colleague tells me about a woman who works at a small manufacturing facility in the Houston area.  The facility employs many Hispanic workers who speak poor English with a heavy accent. The front office folks are Caucasian.  The workers on the floor are mostly Hispanic with a few recent immigrants from Mexico.  

The…