Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Can’t Fire Me for That,|Army Reserve Man Says

ST. LOUIS (CN) - Best Buy illegally fired a worker for missing work for Army Reserve training, the man claims in court.

Marcus Hammonds sued Best Buy in Federal Court. He claims his wrongful firing violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act.

Best Buy fired him after he returned from a two-week training session in July 2012, Hammonds says in the lawsuit.

He claims he had reminded his manager and team leader of the training session before he took the time off, but they cut him from the work schedule anyway.

"Plaintiff spoke to one of the team leaders in his department, Randy Crawford," the complaint states. "Crawford told plaintiff that plaintiff had had four 'no call, no show' shifts during the two weeks that he was engaged in Reserves training. Crawford recommended that plaintiff speak to general manager Dan Hughes.

"Plaintiff spoke to Hughes, who informed plaintiff that Hughes had been 'given the impression' that plaintiff had quit his job.

"Plaintiff never resigned his position with defendant Best Buy.

"Plaintiff subsequently spoke to a Best Buy human resources representative, who informed plaintiff that he had been involuntarily separated from his employment in July 2012.

"Plaintiff had an obligation to perform service for the United States Army Reserves, and actually performed such service.

"Defendant Best Buy took adverse action against plaintiff by involuntarily terminating his employment and failing to retain him for employment, in violation of the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act."

Hammonds seeks punitive damages of at least $75,000.

He is represented by Brian Love with Dobson, Goldberg, Berns & Rich.

Follow @@joeharris_stl
Categories / Uncategorized

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...