3 replies to this topic

[Tiiger]

The president of the company (****), my former employer, had a wife who had me fired. The wife had no position in the company. She was involved in a power struggle with the long term employee who hired me. Is the wife going to be able to avoid answering questions in deposition by claiming a spousal privilege?

Edited by FindLaw_AHK, 22 August 2012 - 09:59 AM.
This post has been edited to remove personal or identifying information. -Moderator

[pg1067]

I don't understand the reference to "tortious interference" in the subject hearder of your post.

Is the wife going to be able to avoid answering questions in deposition by claiming a spousal privilege?

Depends on what the questions are. Confidential communications between spouses are privileged, and that privilege is subject to few, if any, exceptions.

[Tax_Counsel]

Note that for private employers, it is not wrongful termination simply because the president fired you at the request/insistence of his wife. When the employer is not a government agency, then the employer may legally fire you for any reason (or no reason at all) except for a few reasons prohibited by law. The prohibited reasons include firing you because:
• of your race, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic test information under federal law (some states/localities add a few more categories like sexual orientation);
• you make certain kinds of reports about the employer to the government (known as whistle-blower protection laws);
• you participate in union organizing activities;
• you use a right or benefit the law guarantees you (e.g. using leave under FMLA);
• you filed a bankruptcy petition;
• your pay was garnished by a single creditor or by the IRS; and
• you took time off work to attend jury duty (in most states).

Like pg1067, I don't see where "tortious interference" applies here. If you are suing the wife for tortious interference with the contractual relationship (i.e. your employment) that you had with the company, that's a pretty tough case to make.

[FindLaw_AHK]

It would most likely depend on the content of the questions the will be required to respond to. Have you consulted with a local Lawyer to advise on your claim?