Ex-employee Suing Apple for Being Fired After Steve Jobs "Guaranteed" His Job

[Anthony Bouchard]

Apple is a massive company and employees come and go all the time. One ex-employee however, by the name of Wayne Goodrich, completed the “come” part, but after being fired, never completed the “go” part. Goodrich is now back in the picture, suing Apple after being fired without a justifiable reason because he claims Steve Jobs guaranteed him a position at Apple in a personal meeting that took place in 2005.

Goodrich explains how he interpreted Steve Jobs' words:

This express promise by Steve Jobs was consistent with a practice that Steve Jobs had, acting on behalf of defendant Apple, of promising job security to certain key employees who worked directly with him for many years.

Goodrich started working for Apple in 1998 and was recently fired in December. The reasoning behind getting fired was never made perfectly clear to Goodrich; when he asked, he was told it was because of, "business reasons." His position at Apple was to help in preparing special events and construct the presentations that would be used to introduce new products to the public, such as those at the keynotes.

Bloomberg Businessweek even reports that Goodrich was the man who brought Apple and Siri together and therefore helped the two companies work together in bringing the voice assistant to the iPhone.

Goodrich's reasoning for suing the company is certainly understandable. Anyone who has been told they will always have a job with a company would have a really bad day if they ended up being fired in the end. However, with Steve Jobs having passed and Apple under new control, the guarantee suddenly becomes a gray area as Steve Jobs is no longer around to comment on the matter.

Without Steve Jobs’ words being legally bound in a written contract and being more of a person-to-person meeting than anything, Goodrich will be fighting an up-hill battle in trying to win anything in this case – anyone can claim that their boss promised them a job forever.

It should be interesting to see where this case ends up.

Sources: Bloomberg Businessweek

[PokemonDesigner]

Apple should lose this case too.

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[drigo1178]

every person in California signs an "at will" disclosure...meaning this will get dismissed fairly quickly especially since it doesnt seem lie it was on his contract.

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[unison999]

There must be some sort of a proof for him to bring legal action against Apple, unless he is stupid and try this without evidence. I hope someone that can do all that for Apple is not someone who is stupid.

[VBLUE42]

I totally agree. Well said sir.

[Alluziion]

Couldn't agree more; Immature trolls who should probably be residing on a Samsung or Android forum rather than naively trying to demonstrate their rebellious nature on a forum dedicated to the products created by a company that they dislike.

On topic - unless he pulls out a legally binding contract with Steve Jobs signature along with other influential members then he's just wasting his time.

[baRRy boRRis]

Doesn't he need it written in a contract or similar that he will keep his job for X long? Steve Jobs or any CEO can say anything in a meeting that doesn't mean **** if it's not on paper...

[RICO_]

If he didn't get it in writing or have eye-witnesses then the contract doesn't exist. Too bad for him he will lose this case.

[rkswat]

You lost your job now suck it and move on. If it wasn't in writing no sale.

[MamaJaay]

Steve Jobs HIMSELF was fired from Apple once....

This guy needs to get over it and just be grateful that he had the utter privilege to work for Jobs in the first place.

[Feanor64]

lol im sure hes got something guys cmon a piece of paper something u dont tell people what uve got u wait until court cmon people

[tridley68]

Dude you got fired quit feeling sorry for yourself and trying to put the blame on Apple get off your azz and look for a job.

[Liambakerg]

It must be hard... Earning easy money for that long then actually having to look for a job...

Get a job, be a dustman or clean toilets or something stop wasting your time on this case and actually work like every other person in his situation has done!

[dveer]

A verbal agreement is just as legally binding as a written agreement. The challenge is proving it. There are more ways than just having witnesses too. Interesting article Is an Oral Contract as Good as a Written Contract?.

[skibumstevo]

every person in California signs an "at will" disclosure...meaning this will get dismissed fairly quickly especially since it doesnt seem lie it was on his contract.

Ah...so you are all for freedom of speech, except for the parts you would like have censored to fit more closely with your personal tastes....got it!

[thetoothfairy]

Please stay on the subject please.

[unison999]

On topic - unless he pulls out a legally binding contract with Steve Jobs signature along with other influential members then he's just wasting his time.

Untrue, verbal agreement is binding as well.
Hard part is the proof of this agreement.
Problem with this lawsuit is Steve Jobs have no right to guarantee life long employment, especially when Jobs himself can be let go if the company decide to release him from his contract.
IF he has proof the guy do have a beef with Jobs though, he can sue Steve Jobs and get part of Jobs estates.

[indyracer05]

Yes Steve Jobs may have gave him a job, it sounds like he didn't specify for how long.

[drigo1178]

Ah...so you are all for freedom of speech, except for the parts you would like have censored to fit more closely with your personal tastes....got it!

what the hell does freedom of speech have to do with this?

[raduga]

Please stay on the subject please.

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