Federal judge finds King & Spalding's reasons for firing associate 'incredibly hard' to believe
A federal judge told King & Spalding on Tuesday that she finds its stated reasons for firing an associate “incredibly hard” to believe and she was planning to deny its motion for summary judgment.
U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said she planned to hold off on ruling to allow the firm time to reach a settlement with the fired associate, David Joffe, Law360 reports.
Joffe had alleged he was fired for raising ethical concerns about a partner who made an untrue representation to a federal judge. Joffe claimed the firm violated an implied restriction on its ability to fire an individual who insists on compliance with legal ethics standards.
King & Spalding had claimed it fired Jaffe largely because of a downward slide in which he failed to file business development plans for three years. Caproni said it seemed harsh for Joffe to be fired without warning and then escorted from the building over administrative lapses, according to Law360.
Caproni told King & Spalding lawyers “I don’t think you want me to issue the opinion” denying the motion for summary judgment. “But I’m going to unless you settle the case.”
