Ware Jackson partners Paul Smith and Dennis Barrow, along with associateAvery Sheppard, secured a summary judgment ruling dismissing the plaintiff’s claims against their client, a leading global energy trading company. The plaintiff, a former employee of the company, alleged he was contractually entitled to a $1.1 million bonus payment. Both parties moved for summary judgment and the Honorable Latasha Lewis Payne held a remote hearing on both motions via Zoom. During the hearing, Ware Jackson focused on the discretionary nature of the plaintiff’s bonus payment and the far-reaching consequences of plaintiff’s contention that he had a contractual right to such a payment. Judge Lewis Payne entered a final judgment denying the plaintiff’s motion and granting the company’s motion in full.

Partner, Paul Smith, represented a company executive in an employment dispute with a major international bank resulting in a jury verdict of over $1 million.

A former company executive sought to collect reimbursement of salary, raises, and bonuses that were verbally promised by the company’s former CEO.  Royal Bank of Scotland bought a controlling interest in the company in 2008, causing a transition of the corporate culture.  Royal Bank declined to honor any promises made by the former CEO if they were not in writing.  A Texas appeals court honored a judgment requiring the company to back pay salary, severance, and bonuses to the former executive.