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Fired for Liberal Radio Bumper Sticker
Boss Brands Employee Al-Quaida, Fires Her
Boss Brands Employee Al-Quaida, Fires Her
First, the newspaper account of the lawsuit ...
Woman sues for alleged firing over talk show bumper sticker
By TERI FIGUEROA
North County Times
March 8, 2006
VISTA - - A San Diego County woman is suing her former employer, accusing her manager of firing her on the spot when she saw the woman's car had a bumper sticker advertising a progressive talk radio station.
The suit also alleges that, after seeing the sticker, the employer commented that the woman could be a member of al-Qaida.
In a civil suit filed at the county courthouse in Vista, Linda Laroca is targeting both her former manager, Beverly Fath, and the company she briefly worked for last year, Advantage Sales and Marketing, Inc.
Neither Laroca nor the defendants could be reached for comment Wednesday. Laroca's attorney declined comment.
Laroca, who was hired by the company as a sales representative, is seeking lost wages and damages for wrongful termination for violations of both public policy and the state labor code. She is also claiming state constitutional violations and emotional distress.
The California labor code prohibits employers from controlling or directing the political activities of employees.
According to Laroca's suit, the bumper sticker in question read only: "1360 Air America Progressive Talk Radio."
The nationwide syndicated radio programming from left-wing Air America, which describes itself as "progressive entertainment talk radio" features show hosts such as comedian and author Al Franken. The network programming is carried locally by radio station KLSD 1360 AM.
A call to Clear Channel-owned KLSD on Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.
In her Feb. 21 claim, Laroca asserts that on Oct. 8, three weeks after she started working for the marketing company, Fath called her on a Saturday and requested they meet at a nearby grocery store parking lot so Laroca could pass on some documents Fath needed.
During the brief encounter, Laroca charges, the manager pointed to the bumper sticker ---- the only one on Laroca's car ---- and remarked that it was a new sticker and called it "that Al Franken left-wing radical radio station."
Laroca alleges in her suit that Fath then told her, "The country is on a high state of alert. For all I know, you could be al-Qaida."
A stunned Laroca laughed nervously at the statement, the suit alleges, and then was dealt "the final blow" when Fath fired her on the spot.
###
About the defendant company: Advantage Sales and Marketing Inc., Irvine, CA HQ.
Sonny King, CEO, 949.797.2900
Stephanie Neuvirth, VP, Human Resources, 949.797.2900
From the corporate website:
LIVING OUR VALUES
"Advantage Sales and Marketing has established values that support an organizational culture of excellence and development. In our rapidly changing world, these values provide the focus we need to sustain a high performance culture and reinforce innovative and ethical business practices. These values are modeled throughout the organization, from senior leaders to front-line supervisors.
Our associates are introduced to these values during the new hire orientation. Managers reinforce these values as they work with their team members throughout the year. The values are part of ASM's Performance Assessment process. These cultural values are woven through our processes and daily work. As Aristotle wrote, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit."
[First in a list of10 values] Value all ASM Associates and provide a workplace environment based upon dignity, trust, and respect."
GN comment: You bet! Responses to the article by NC Times readers. A sampling of attitudes toward bullied employees and employers. Read 'em and weep.
Employer sympathizers
Theory wrote:"While we may not like why he fired her it seems to me that a person should be free to run their own business they way they see fit. Even if we think it stinks. As an employer I have every right to employ the people I want for the reasons I want, and that does mean I have the right to fire someone simply because I don't like them. But instead of just dealing with it people want to sue as if somehow money fixs the problem. When people sue because they were fired it makes small business owners like myself think twice about even hiring new people. I know that if I heard one of my employees listening to Hannity or Rush I would tell them to turn it off. If they didn't I would in fact fire them. I have that right, but when people continue to sue each other it take that right away. People talk about having freedoms but both the left and the right only want people to have freedoms they agree with. Shame. While I may think the guy is a jerk I will always fight for his rights to be one."
Scott wrote:"There are a lot of facts that we don't know about this case. The article is vague and only states one side. For all we know, the ladies boss could have been planning on firing her to begin with when she asked her to meet up in a parking lot. A lot of employers have policies that give them the ability to fire someone for no reason at all for a period of time after the hire date. If she was infact fired because of the bumper sticker, then yes, that is grounds for a law suit. But I have the feeling that the employer may have a pretty good argument. "
Jim from Delaware wrote:"I guess the way things are now, we would get sued for firing a Nazi sympathizer during WWII"
Lynn wrote:"I just want to tell all of you out there bashing on Beverly, I know her personally and she knows nothing about politics and she wouldn't say such a thing! She doesn't even know what the bumper sticker looked like. I believe Laroca should be counter sued for false claims. It's he own fault she wasn't doing her job correctly. Also, the Press failed to contact Beverly to confirm this claim, they too should be sued. You all are only hearing one side of the story!"
LOL wrote:"This is kind of funny but probably not true. Some lady probably got fired and dreamed up this scam to get some money. If it is true thought they company should pay up!!!"
Plaintiff sympathizers
Frances wrote:"This situation is about right for those on the right. If you do not agree with them, you are a traitor, not a Christian, dumb, stupid or just unAmerican. Yet most of them profess a love for Jesus Christ and Christianity. As Americans, we all have a right to single minded thinking. We do not have to be in lockstep with anyone. Yet, it appears that her employer is trying to ensure a police state mentality. What a shame."
Bob wrote:" Well why not just get it over with and issue brown shirts and black boots. Why is her boss so afraid of someone who may actually have an opinion that differs from his. Sorry, I guess asking questions under this regime is out of the question."
John wrote:"Are we surprised by this type of censorship in the vicinity of the Congressional districts of Randy "Duke" Scamingham and Duncan "Duck and Cover" Hunter? What's next, book burning?"
Angel wrote:"Good Lord, last I heard, it was NOT illegal, nor was it a "firing offense" to listen to a certain radio station. I find this article most disturbing. I see our Constitutional rights eroding away like the cliffs on the coast, thanks to our current administration. Soon the bluff (pun FULLY intended) will come down and we will be prisoners in the "Land of the Free". "
Emma wrote:"My car has a bumper sticker that says "George W. Bush: Coward, Liar, War Criminal." Think I should apply to Ms. Fath for a job? Seriously, this kind of attitude is seriously wrong. There's a reason why it's illegal. If I worked for a company that fired a worker for having a Rush Limbaugh bumper sticker, I would be just as outraged, and I would start looking for another job immediately, and I'd make it clear why I was looking for one. This kind of thing is NOT okay. No matter WHO is in the White House."