Employee Contract Dispute

A medical provider partnership entered into employment contract negotiations with a physician assistant (PA).  Although a few draft versions of the employment contract had been prepared, which included compensation and quarterly bonus provisions, the PA commenced work without a signed contract.

After several months, patients began to complain about the PA’s inappropriate conduct and treatment, including inappropriate sexual remarks, insufficient physical examinations, and falsification of patient records.  Based on the patients’ complaints, the medical provider terminated the PA and reported the patients’ complaints to the Oregon Medical Board. 

The PA subsequently sued the client for breach of the employment contract, and specifically alleged that the parties had formed an oral employment contract, which entitled him to quarterly bonuses.  The PA relied on the written but unsigned draft versions of the employment contract to argue his entitlement to additional compensation and lost wages.

During discovery, attorney Rob Sinnott interviewed several patients about the PA’s conduct and treatment.  He was able to convince many patients to testify at trial on his client’s behalf, providing the medical provider partnership with a strong defense and settlement posture.  Thanks to Rob, the medical provider partnership was able to settle with the PA for a small fraction of his initial claim, and for much less than the cost to litigate the case to a jury verdict and ultimate appeal.