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Uber driver terminated after pulling gun on passenger in defense

Uber driver Deven Garza said that he was fired after he brandished a firearm to protect himself from a passenger who was trying to attack him in Austin, Texas.

Garza, a concealed handgun licensing and former military policeman, joined Uber in May 2015. According to reports, he picked up a couple at Uncle Gary’s Bar in Pflugerville on Monday, July 20. Garza said the two told him to go to Round Rock but couldn’t agree where exactly.

He proceeded to drive onto the toll road towards Round Rock. The two got upset with him and the male passenger grabbed Garza’s shirt. Garza reached for his gun to protect himself, and, according to him, the male passenger tried to grab the gun. Garza accidentally fired the gun, just missing the gear shift and the steering wheel.

Garza said he reported the incident to Uber and the police right away but he was informed that his employment would be terminated. Garza said he plans to contest Uber’s decision.

Texas state and federal laws provide Texans with a myriad of employee protection laws, so if you feel that your welfare had been maligned in the workplace or you have been treated unfairly, do not hesitate to seek the legal help of our attorneys at The Melton Law Firm in Austin by calling our offices today at (512) 330-0017.


The Austin Police Department faces unpaid overtime investigation

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is investigating the Austin Police Department over allegations of unpaid overtime, a matter that the police union expects to result in a lawsuit, according to Officer.com on July 10.

According to documents released by the Austin American-Statesman, Austin police officers regularly show up early to work in order to be ready for the shift ahead of them.

Austin City Council members were notified in a memo issued on July 8 by City Manager Marc Ott that the Labor Department had reached out to the city’s law department over concerns regarding the unpaid time.

Austin Police Association president Kenneth Cassaday said they are working through drafts of a lawsuit and noted that the union will be holding meetings from now until August to explore legal options and gather other police officers’ input.

Our Austin attorneys at The Melton Law Firm work diligently to protect employees from being taken advantage of by the companies they work for, including when overtime regularly goes unpaid. Call us at (512) 330-0017 today to learn more.


Six sue Lake Charles Wal-Mart for wrongful termination

Six plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart in Lake Charles, Louisiana, claiming they were wrongfully terminated based on their race and age, despite their long-term experience working for the company, Market Watch reported on June 26.

Ironically, the lawsuit was filed days after Wal-Mart decided to pull out all products containing the Confederate flag from its shelves due to racial tensions surrounding the symbol.

According to the lawsuit, the Lake Charles’ store manager Leah Loerwald practices discrimination among the staff. Loerwald was also proven guilty by a jury in a previous discrimination case. Instead of firing her, Wal-Mart transferred her to the Lake Charles store.

Workplace discrimination should never be tolerated. If you have been singled out at work due to your race, gender, age, or another factor, the legal team at The Melton Law Firm in Austin may fight on your behalf in court. Call our offices at (512) 330-0017 today to begin taking action.

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