Earlier this week, an in-depth ProPublica report highlighted concerns raised by current and former NRA staff over the $97K/day bills coming from Bill Brewer’s firm. While Brewer and NRA big wigs downplayed the fees — even as the organization pleads cash flow problems — it wasn’t the sort of spotlight any firm wants to be under. Coupled with the abrupt resignation yesterday of three NRA board members claiming to have been retaliated against for questioning the group’s spending, the scrutiny on the NRA’s finances and Brewer’s contribution to those woes will linger.
But that’s not all the bad news for Brewer this month!
In mid-July, an administrative decision in New York slapped Brewer and his firm with over $170K in fines and restitution for firing an employee for daring to use their sick leave:
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Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Lorelei Salas today announced that the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) has ordered an employer to pay $1,500 in civil penalties and $172,215.30 in restitution to a worker who was wrongfully terminated for using sick leave. The worker, who had previously been recognized for doing excellent work with the employer, had a series of doctors’ appointments and then requested several days off to deal with his health issues. The company, after demanding confidential information about his medical issue, fired him that day.
OATH’s decision, the first case brought under DCWP’s fast-track protocol that prioritizes responding to claims of retaliatory termination, finds that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors (Brewer Firm) and William A. Brewer violated the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law by failing to maintain written sick leave policies, requiring that the worker provide a medical reason, and illegally retaliating against the worker for using the leave. The decision awards the worker restitution for the wrongful firing and backpay for his time out-of-work since being fired.
So a public debate over whether or not the firm is overzealously racking up unnecessary fees and a ruling that people are getting fired for being sick like in some Dickensian work camp? Not a great stretch!
Earlier: NRA May Be Shooting Itself In The Foot With Out-Of-Control Legal Bills
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Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.