Halliburton sues retirees (for complaining) over health benefit cutback

[UpInArms]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2711721

When Halliburton announced in November that it would stop providing health insurance for its retirees who are eligible for Medicare, some got upset.

Three wrote the company complaining about the change that's scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 and promptly got sued — by Halliburton.

"I was flabbergasted," said Paul Bryant, one the three complaining executives and a former vice president of human resources for Halliburton until he retired in 1999.

The fact that Halliburton is dropping health benefits for its retirees in favor of Medicare is nothing new in today's business world.

That they were sued for complaining is relatively new.

...more...

[MaineDem]

1. I don't understand why the retirees are being sued.

Because they complained? Or is there some sort of suit that says "let's check the legal issue at stake?" Are these people being sued as individuals? I don't get it.

And Halliburton is being so magnanimous in covering the retirees' legal costs. "Halliburton did not want to impose upon its retirees the costs associated with a class-action lawsuit," Branch wrote. "Payment of those costs ensures that the retirees can retain excellent legal counsel to assist in achieving a full and fair resolution of the case."

The paragraph before that says "Federal law requires a company that sues its employees over benefits to pay its employees' legal bills."

How nice of them!

As a retiree (not from Halliburton) this is of great interest to me.

[Mel]

4. this does not look good to me

Halliburton must have figured the retirees would eventually sue and made a pre-emptive strike, said Joe Ahmad, an employment lawyer with Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Anaipakos in Houston.

It's an unusual tactic in an employment case, said Ahmad, who is not involved in the dispute. But by suing first, Halliburton can choose where the case is filed and will have a chance to present its case first.

"A lot of times, you can win before the other side can even speak," Ahmad said.</snip>

What I think, Halliburton filed the case first so they can get into a court that will be 'friendly' to their side in other words before a judge that's more likely to rule on the side of business.

If I was in a similar situation as these former Halliburton employees I would speak to an attorney first. Learn and watch what's fixing to happen to these former employees I'm afraid they are fixing to get the shaft! So, the lesson here for me is get the jump on suing your former company first if they try to shaft you out of your benefits.


One other thing that I noticed is the use of pre-emptive strike does any one else find this use of language as kind of par for the course? So what now? Do they think that employees/workers are terrorists? What it tells me, they think they must kill us first they are at war with their workers.

We as a people are going to have to take back our country from the corporations or we are ALL in deep doo. This isn't just about those that may or may not get a pension.
I'm not getting one that isn't the point if they get away with taking this they will take more and more that's the way it works for these Corporations.

What Bush* is doing now is trying to line the courts with judges that are friendly to those corporations if we get another four years of him we are sunk all branches will be corporate owned and short of a revolution we won't be living good.
This is not tin foil the information is out there for all to see this is part of the Newt 'contract on americans' plan.

[snippy]

8. It is kind of like a lawsuit to "check the legal issue at stake."

Haliburton wants a Declaratory Judgment setting out its rights (and obligations) under the merger agreement between Halliburton and Dresser Industries. But even if that agreement requires Halliburton to continue the plan for retirees, employers typically have the right to amend a plan to reduce or eliminate retiree benefits.

[54anickel]

2. My F-i-L got a letter regarding this and he retired from Dresser some

20 years ago. Hellaburnin sold the manufacturing parts of Dresser to a venture capitalist group right after the 2 year waiting period imposed by the FTC (they only bought it for the Engineering division (Kelleogg). We aren't quite sure why he got the letter other than the VC group still uses the same 3rd party HR company for Dresser that Hellaburnin did, at least that was the 1st guess of the union.

Dad was recently diagnosed with cancer, needless to say this letter had him pretty upset.

It almost seemed like it was some sort of pre-emptive counter suit. The recipients of the letter could contact Hellaburnin if they did not want to be part of this "class" being sued. We were thinking it was some twisted way to somehow get them to not be part of another upcoming class suit against Hellaburnin - but we don't know for sure. :shrug:

[tlcandie]

3. Not like they aren't making $$$ hand over fist now is it?!

How compassionate of Halliburton!!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Good Christian Halliburton has a mission from God, and can't

be bothered by the likes of the little people.

[snippy]

6. How very republican. n/t

[Rose Siding]

7. Must be the 'You'll Shut Up And Like It' wing of the republican party.

Preemptive litigation. It would be funny but...

Dresser is involved. That's Cheney's egg.

[BillZBubb]

9. Thank you Halliburton!

They have just given Kerry/Edwards a HUGE issue! Let's see the Chimp and Chump defend this!

Lawsuit abuse? You bet! Abandoning obligations to vulnerable? You bet! Corporate irresponsibility? Big Time!

[rfkrocks]

10. Halliburton the great tick on the body politic

Sucking our blood and treasure in Iraq and now suing retirees-Free us from this pestilence-How much more can we take?-Employees earned their benefits!!!The Great American Social Contract is in shatters

[undergroundpanther]

11. Shit

Companies like haiburton need to be SHUT DOWN.There is no sane reason why they should be able to control people like this!
I wish the employees every one would just stop doing what the boss wants NOW. Just stand around and chat,lounge and do NO WORK at all ,collect the check,and just disobey .Infuriate the little Hitlers until haliburton decides to admit it is the dependent,uppity little parasite on paper run by an even more disgusting bullying group of social parasites on humanity and the world it IS.

A company can't function or exist unless there are duped people made willing to sacrifice by fear of poverty or a bad reference and sell themselves for way less what they really ARE worth for it's profits.
Haliburtion is run on coercion and belief in threats as real.All companies are.They use poverty health care costs and status as a psychological/social whip to drive people to accept a companies thievery of their lives.

[Bozita]

12. Sounds like one of those FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS brought by TRIAL LAWYERS...

... looking for a judge who legislates from the bench.

Years ago, Walter Lippman wrote, "It all depends on whose ox is being gored."

[MasonJar]

13. Good old public servant Haliburton; no wonder that Cheney was

so popular and successful there.

[goforit]

14. Don't mess with the devil............you'll get burned!

[kanrok]

15. Assholes