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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
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Company Wants Info on Daytime Moonlighting

HOUSTON (CN) - A company seeks to depose an officer of QVC to defend its firing of an account executive whose side gig, hawking luggage for QVC, allegedly interfered with her work.

U.S. Legal Support filed a petition to take pre-suit depositions in Harris County Court. The company, founded in 1996, describes itself in the petition as "one of the leading providers of litigation services," including court reporting, record retrieval and legal placement.

"In April 2009, U.S. Legal Support hired Erin Elmore as an account executive in its Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office," the petition states.

"Prior to joining U.S. Legal Support, Ms. Elmore appeared on the television show 'The Apprentice' and is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law."

The company claims that Elmore, who worked full time, was expected to solicit law firms and corporations for business, and visit potential clients.

"During her employment with U.S. Legal Support, Ms. Elmore did not perform at a level expected of her," the petition states. "The company met with her to discuss the need for her to increase her contacts with potential customers and improve her sales results.

"Unfortunately, Ms. Elmore's performance did not improve to a level satisfactory to U.S. Legal Support. U.S. Legal Support terminated Ms. Elmore on November 16, 2012.

"One of the reasons why Ms. Elmore's performance may have suffered was her involvement as an 'On Air Talent' with QVC. On information and belief, Ms. Elmore appeared on the QVC television program during her regular work hours for U.S. Legal Support or when she indicated that she could not work due to health reasons.

"Ms. Elmore now describes herself on LinkedIn as having been an 'On Air Host at QVC Network for Heys Luggage' since May 2009 -o ne month after she joined U.S. Legal Support."

The company claims Elmore has hired an attorney and is pursuing employment discrimination claims against it.

U.S. Legal Support says it wants to question a QVC officer to get details about Elmore's work, including "the dates and times that (she) appeared on air at QVC," and the dates of any trips she took for QVC.

A QVC subsidiary operates a 70,000-square-foot telemarketing center in San Antonio. It also has an office in the Dallas suburb Sachse, according to the petition.

U.S. Legal Support is represented by J. Alfred Southerland, with Shellist, Lazarz & Slobin.

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