by Courtney Powell
2/8/2010 9:10:00 PM
Snowflakes? Yes, snowflakes. As we settle in for the third (or is it fourth?) snowstorm of the year in Oklahoma, it is impossible to think of little else besides the snow. But how, you may ask, are snowflakes like employment lawsuits. Simple – each employment lawsuit is unique.
Sure, most employment actions involve the same basic formula, employee quits, is fired or constructively discharged and wants to know if there is something they can do, but that is where the similarities end. Was there some sort of harassment or discrimination? Did the employee have a contract? Is there emotional damage or just lost wages? The answers to these questions also vary.
As an employment litigator, you have to be prepared for the variations that are inevitably present in every lawsuit. Individuals who seek representation for employment claims must understand that their claim is not a “typical” anything. There is no such thing as typical or standard. Why? Because like snowflakes, no two lawsuits are the same.