Thanks a lot, Comcast

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CN) - After refusing to get city licenses to solicit door to door, Comcast fired a sales rep for obeying police orders not to solicit customers without a license, the salesman claims in court.

Terry Hurley sued Comcast CC of Willow Grove, in Middlesex County Court. They are the only parties to the lawsuit.

Hurley claims he worked for Comcast for 16 months as a "Win Back representative," going door to door to former customers to try to win them back as Comcast subscribers.

In his July 24 lawsuit, Hurley says he complained to his supervisor, nonparty John Quinn, that Comcast was making him go door to door without the required municipal solicitor's license.

"Mr. Quinn merely responded, 'Keep going. If something happens and you have to go to court, I'll go with you,'" according to the complaint.

It continues: "Plaintiff also informed Dave McMullen, a manager, that he was uncomfortable selling without a permit but Mr. McMullen responded, 'Don't worry about it. Just go out and sell.'

"When plaintiff was approached by police officers for violating the law by soliciting in several towns without the required license (including but not limited to the Township of Hillsborough, Borough of Pennington, Kendall Park (South Brunswick Township), Branchburg Township, Franklin Park (Township of Franklin), Stockton Borough, and Township of Bedminster), he obeyed police orders and stopped soliciting in those towns."

Hurley says he refused to "keep going" in towns where police warned him off, so Comcast fired him "for the alleged reason of failing to meet his sales quota."

In fact, Hurley say, Comcast fired him "for refusing to break the law."

He seeks lost wages, front pay and punitive damages for retaliation, the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, and emotional distress.

He is represented by Paul Castronovo, with Castronovo & McKinney, of Morristown.

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