an attorney was working a very solid job with great benefits and a good pension. The attorney was contacted and recruited by an individual firm and after much prodding by the firm's managing partner, the attorney left the solid job. The agreement was that the firm manager was going to train the attorney personally and provide the skills for the attorney to be a trial lawyer for the firm. The attorney began working for the private firm yet none of the promises (training and career path) that were the main impetus for leaving the solid job, ever occurred. 1 years into the attorney's time at the firm, the managing partner, with no prior indication of disappointment in the attorney's work, fired the attorney, who was part of a protected class. The attorney was replaced with a new attorney who was not part of a protected class.

Upon leaving the office after being terminated, the attorney fell down a staircase that was inside of the building. An argument ensued as to whether or not this would be considered workers compensation being that the attorney had just been fired and was on the way to empty out the office where the attorney worked.

Additionally, one week later while recuperating, the attorney discovered that a third party owned the building where the fall occurred. Keep in mind that the reason for the fall was poor lighting and worn stairs in the building.

There are so many legal issues here but let's look first at the contractual issues, if any. Do you see any? Do you see anything else going on here....legally speaking, of course!