The attorneys at Hengst & Henderson have handled a variety of cases. Below is s small sample of the cases they have handled.

Sexual Harassment

Our client was raped by another employee at a nationwide restaurant chain. Despite the fact that the there were no witnesses and the defense argued that the claim was barred because it was covered by worker's compensation, we settled it for nearly half a million dollars.

Our client was raped with a broom handle. Despite the fact that there were no witnesses and our client had been an exotic dancer, we settled it for over two years salary before suit was filed.

Woman at car dealership was promised a promotion if she slept with her boss. The two had sex on one occasion at work and another occasion at a hotel. She then told him that she would not sleep with him anymore. She was refused the promotion and was later fired. Settled for over two years salary despite the fact that there were no witnesses.

Woman working for large company was ordered to attend a convention with her boss. At the convention, the boss made sexual comments to her and attempted to have sex with her in the hotel. She refused and was later fired. Settled confidentially before suit was filed.

Defended company accused of sexual harassment. Settled for a nominal amount after suit was filed.

Retaliation

Executive level female filed a gender discrimination claim with the EEOC. She was fired shortly thereafter by her employer, a large insurance company. We produced a witness that testified that he was told to fire her because of the EEOC claim. Settled for over $250,000.

Female at large company reported that one of her bosses was sexually harassing her. She was fired after reporting the harassment. Settled confidentially before suit was filed.

Two female employees reported discrimination to their female manager. The manager followed policy and reported the discrimination to her boss and to HR. The company then did an investigation on the manager and fired her. Settled confidentially at a pre-suit mediation.

Multi-party

Successfully settled claims for nine clients against a large insurance company. The claims were for gender discrimination, sexual harassment, age discrimination and retaliation. We filed one suit in state court and one in federal court. The federal case settled at mediation and the state case settled at the courthouse before we started trial.

Claims of seven clients against large company in the automobile industry alleging a hostile work environment and sexual harassment. Settled confidentially at mediation.

Defended a home health care company accused of terminating employees for failing to commit an illegal act under Sabine Pilot. After a long litigation process, settled the cases for a nominal sum.

Defended a janitorial company in a case where employees claimed numerous types of discrimination. We presented the proper facts to the EEOC and the charges were dismissed.

Defended a restaurant in a case where numerous employees claimed sexual harassment. The EEOC represented the employees.

Defended a company that was charged with overtime violations. Settled for a nominal sum.

Race and National Origin

Our client worked for a collection agency. His boss made posters and put them up in the office. The posters had our client's picture and were full of racial slurs and innuendoes such as "Homey Da Playa" and comments that our client was a drug dealer. Settled confidentially.

Executive level manager was fired because he was American. The company wanted a foreign person in the position. Settled confidentially.

Our client was from Iran. After the Gulf War the staff treated her differently and put up a poster about her. Settled confidentially at a pre-suit mediation.

Americans With Disability Act (ADA)

Represented a teacher who had Parkinson's disease and was fired. Settled confidentially before suit was filed after lengthy negotiations with school district.

Worker suffered injury to right arm that made use of his hand and arm very limited. The company transferred him to a position that required repetitive use of the arm. He could not perform the functions of that job because of his disability. Settled confidentially at mediation.

Represented a company that allegedly did not hire a prospective employee because of his disability. The case was well publicized in the news. We settled the case for a small amount of money and an apology letter.

Represented a company in a case where an employee claimed she was fired because she was overweight. She claimed that her obesity was a disability or a perceived disability under the ADA.

Age Discrimination (ADEA)

Salesman at large company in the railroad industry was fired after thirty-five years service and was replaced by a younger worker. Settled confidentially after mediation.

Executive Secretary for large company was fired and replaced by younger employee. Settled confidentially before suit was filed.

Executive for Fortune 500 company was fired and replaced by younger employee. Settled confidentially at pre-suit mediation.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Teacher at small school was offered job and then was told that there was no position for her because she was pregnant. Settled for one year's salary.

Engineer at large company was fired after she became pregnant. Settled confidentially.

Religious Discrimination

Our client was a Jehovah's Witness. Her religious beliefs precluded her from celebrating holidays or wearing any paraphernalia in celebration of a holiday. Her employer, a retail store, told her that she had to wear a costume for St. Patrick's Day. She explained her religious beliefs but was told that she had to wear it or she was fired. She refused and was fired. Settled confidentially.

ERISA

Our client was fired and was not given the opportunity to elect COBRA. She needed surgery shortly thereafter but had no medical coverage. After suit, the company agreed to put her on COBRA, to pay for the surgery and to pay monetary damages and attorneys fees.

Fortune 500 company employed our client for a number of years as a contract worker despite the fact that he was treated like an employee. As a contract worker he was denied the same benefits that an employee received. After a long legal battle and two mediations, the case settled confidentially.

Our client suffered a disability and applied for long term disability, which was denied. We sued and settled for a six-figure sum.

Whistleblower

Teacher at a University was fired after reporting violations. Settled confidentially

Accountant at large oil company was terminated after reporting accounting irregularities. Settled before suit was filed.

Worker's Compensation Retaliation (§451)

Our client was injured and went on Worker's Compensation. He was fired shortly thereafter even though he was ready to come back to work. Settled confidentially.

Common Law claims

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress - The boss of our client treated him cruelly. The boss was a wealthy man and our client was his assistant. The boss had his staff take a picture of our client naked and put the picture on T-shirts that he passed out to other employees. The boss had his staff throw our client in a lake even though he could not swim. Settled for $200,000.

Defamation and False Imprisonment - Large Retailer accused our client of stealing at the cash register. The employer interrogated our client for an hour and a half and verbally abused him. One of the managers told one of our client's friends that he was a thief. Settled confidentially.

Sabine Pilot - Our client was fired for refusing to commit an illegal act. Settled confidentially.

Breach of Contract

Obtained trial verdict over $160,000 for general contractor who was not paid full amount for work done.

Our client earned a commission on a large contract but was fired before the company paid the commission. Settled before suit for the commission due.

Our client formed a partnership with another person. The other person fired our client. We sued and settled confidentially.

Non - Competes

We represented a company in a case where the employee was taking former clients of the company and was making negative comments about the company. Obtained a temporary restraining order against the employee.

We represented another company in a case where the former employee was working for a competitor and was steering business away from our client. Obtained a temporary restraining order preventing the employee from competing against our client.

Personal Injury

Our client was at a night club on the dance floor. She stepped on a broken bottle and severed tendons in her foot. She had to have surgery and suffered permanent damage. We got a judgment for $1,000,000.

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