Portland Oregon Personal Injury and Employment Law Blog

It is not unusual for individuals to consider themselves career workers. They may intend to land a job and keep that job for as long as possible, which many hope means being able to retire from that job. Unfortunately, some individuals with this goal may not be able to reach it due to retaliation and unfair treatment they experience from their employers.

Oregon readers may be interested in an out-of-state case regarding retaliation that recently reached an outcome. Reports stated that a FedEx worker had been with the company for 25 years when he suffered a serious injury on the job in 2014. A large box fell and struck the man's head, which resulted in him suffering a spinal cord injury and having to be hospitalized. Approximately one month later, the man was cleared to return to work if certain accommodations were met, such as not being able to drive or lift more than 10 lbs.

Being let go from a job can be a devastating experience. When the situation results with good reason and is out of the employee's control, an Oregon worker may be better able to accept the event. However, if workers are laid off only to find out that they were let go unnecessarily, they may have reason to file wrongful termination claims.

It was recently reported that over 150 people have filed this type of lawsuit in another state against the same employer. Apparently, the state's Department of Health laid off approximately 200 employees due to an alleged lack of funds. The department also received a taxpayer bailout of $30 million in 2017 due to those claims. However, an audit into the department was released last year and showed that the layoffs were not necessary and that the department mismanaged funds.

When driving on roadways, other vehicles can seemingly come out of nowhere. In some cases, this sudden appearance has no effect other than to startle a driver and cause him or her to pay more attention. Unfortunately, some drivers may not even see other vehicles before a collision occurs and serious injuries result.

It was recently reported that an accident in Oregon led to the injuries to two people. Apparently, a car was traveling east when a minivan entered the roadway from another street. The two vehicles collided, and photos from the scene show that the car sustained heavy front-end damage and that the minivan ended up in a ditch on the side of the road. Additional details on the accident itself were not given in the report.

Having a disability, whether temporary or permanent, can make certain areas of life more difficult than for those who are able-bodied. However, having a disability does not mean that a person cannot carry out his or her necessary work duties and have a fulfilling career. In some cases, certain accommodations may be needed in order to have that success, and most employers have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations. If that does not happen, employment law issues could result.

Oregon readers may be interested in a legal issue that is currently being addressed in another state. Reports indicated that a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines has filed a disability discrimination lawsuit against the company due to past issues relating to needed accommodations. The man reportedly suffered a foot injury while on the job after a "botched" landing in 2016. He had to take medical leave from work, and due to continuing issues resulting from the injury, he needed medical footwear that differed from the Delta-approved dress code. The situation resulted in his missing a year of work, and he hopes that a lawsuit will allow him to obtain compensation for that time.