Fired Apple Employee Files Suit, Claims Jobs Promised Lifetime Employment
Wayne Goodrich, a former employee at Apple, is suing the Cupertino company for breach of contract and unfair business practices after he was supposedly promised job security by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who passed away last year. As Goodrich tells it, he wasn't fired for anything that had to do with job performance, but rather "business reasons."
According to the court complaint, Jobs told Goodrich in May 2005 that he would always have employment at Apple, a conversation that occurred after Jobs returned from medical leave.
Wayne Goodrich contends job performance had nothing to do with why he was fired from Apple.
"This express promise by Steve Jobs was consistent with a practice that Steve Jobs had, acting on behalf of defendant Apple, of promising job security to certain key employees who worked directly with him for many years," Goodrich stated in his complaint.
According to Goodrich, he was instrumental in helping Jobs pull off successful product launches, prepare for keynote speeches, and was the first to bring Siri to Apple's attention. He is seeking damages for loss of restricted stock (company stock that isn't transferable until certain conditions are met), wages, benefits, and emotional distress.
According to the court complaint, Jobs told Goodrich in May 2005 that he would always have employment at Apple, a conversation that occurred after Jobs returned from medical leave.
Wayne Goodrich contends job performance had nothing to do with why he was fired from Apple.
"This express promise by Steve Jobs was consistent with a practice that Steve Jobs had, acting on behalf of defendant Apple, of promising job security to certain key employees who worked directly with him for many years," Goodrich stated in his complaint.
According to Goodrich, he was instrumental in helping Jobs pull off successful product launches, prepare for keynote speeches, and was the first to bring Siri to Apple's attention. He is seeking damages for loss of restricted stock (company stock that isn't transferable until certain conditions are met), wages, benefits, and emotional distress.
