Injured Driver Alleges Wrongful Termination, Forced to Keep Working

Waco, TXWhen a cement truck driver took time off work for an injury sustained on the job, he had no idea that his injury would result in wrongful termination. But that's exactly what happened to Harold Tunnel, who was made to suffer through alleged wrongful employment termination. Wrongful termination law is there to protect workers from unnecessary job loss—an important consideration in these tough times.

Here's Harold's story. Mr. Tunnel was employed as a driver for Knife River Corp. and was in charge of a cement mixer. This meant driving the heavy rig to and from jobs, together with loading and off-loading chutes for heavy cement.

According to Tunnel's complaint, he was working this past February 5th when he suffered an injury loading and off-loading chutes while on the job. However when he reported the injury to his manager at Knife River, his employer acknowledged the injury but at the same time told him that they needed him to work. He was not allowed to go home.

Thus he soldiered on while the pain continued to dog him. According to a complaint filed April 30th in Jefferson County District Court, after continuing to complain about the pain he was in, the employee was finally allowed to go to the hospital.

Jump ahead a few days, to February 9th. According to Tunnel's complaint the employee talked with his supervisor and was told to bring his medical paperwork into the offices of Knife River once doctors discovered what was wrong.

It was reported that during the same conversation Tunnel informed his supervisor that a medical test had been scheduled for February 12th and a medical appointment a few days later on the 16th. The injured employee's supervisor is alleged to have told Tunnel to keep in touch. The supervisor reportedly promised to inform the human resources department of Tunnel's injury.

According to reports when Tunnel next talked with a human resources manager for Knife River on February 18th, he was told that he had been let go for not showing up for work. However Tunnel alleges wrongful termination as retaliation for his attempt to file a worker's compensation claim.

Tunnel, of Hardin County in Southeast Texas, is claiming lost wages and mental anguish, together with the seeking of punitive damages in his action against Knife River Corporation.

He is seeking unspecified compensatory, general and punitive damages, plus injunctive relief, pre-and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief to which he may be entitled from his wrongful employment termination.

In the current economy it's hard to keep and certainly much harder to find another job. The sting is worse when a wrongful termination has allegedly occurred. When this happens, wrongful termination law can often mean the difference between successfully maintaining your lifestyle and caring for your family—and unspeakable financial hardship.