Houston Employment Attorney Represents Fort Bend Whistleblower
Houston attorney Gregg Rosenberg is representing a Fort Bend county employee who believes was fired relating to a child abuse claim she filed two years ago. When another employee complained that nothing had been done in the case, it was reopened and Patricia Cantu lost her job and found an attorney. Texas law offers public employees whistleblower protection.
Houston, Texas (PRWEB) November 3, 2009 -- Houston employment attorney Gregg Rosenberg is the attorney representing a Fort Bend woman who was fired this past July. Patricia Cantu is a former employee at the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center. She believes she was fired in retaliation after turning in a coworker for alleged abuse.
Houston Employment Attorney Greg Roseberg Represents Whistleblower
Cantu was employed at the detention center for 18 years. According to court documents, two years ago, Cantu claims she witnessed a female guard choke a 15-year-old female inmate in a bathroom stall. She promptly reported the issue - within the time frame dictated by state law. She thought the case was closed.
According to court documents, the incident came up again in July in a routine audit with the state when another employee mentioned it. At that point there was an investigation and Cantu was contacted by the state. She told them again and this time she was fired for not reporting the incident within 24 hours.
Cantu retained Rosenberg who is a Texas labor lawyer and filed a lawsuit (CA No. 2009-65682 55th District Court, Harris County Texas) alleging the county violated the state's whistleblower statute by terminating her employment. Rosenberg says there are records of her initial report which was made within a few hours after seeing the abuse take place. She is suing for back pay and damages.
Rosenberg asserts that by firing her, the county broke the Texas whistleblower statute. "Texas law protects employees of public companies. It protects someone who is retaliated against for making a good faith report of a violation of law to an appropriate law enforcement authority," he said.
Typically the whistleblower statute applies just to public employers as in this case. In this case, Cantu was employed by a government agency. Some private employers offer whistleblower protection also.
Those who have faced discrimination at work may have a case. It's important to determine that by contacting an attorney as soon as possible after an incident. Rosenberg notes that it is also illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee who files a Workers' Compensation claim.
About Attorney Gregg Rosenberg
Gregg M. Rosenberg has practiced employment law since 1986 as part of Gregg M. Rosenberg & Associates at www.RosenbergLaw.com In 1994, the State Bar of Texas recognized him in specialist in his field. He is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Rosenberg has 23 years experience as a Houston employment lawyer.
Those who feel they may have a case can fill out a questionnaire at http://www.rosenberglaw.com/questions.asp They will be contacted with an answer, usually within a day.
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