Legal Question in Employment Law in California

I had an employer that I worked for is coming after me for relocation expenses that they are telling me I owe. When I negotiated relocation in June 2012 to move from St. Louis to Fresno, CA (within the same company), they offered a certain dollar figure and after my own research found it was too low I went back to them that they would need to reconsider. Once they received the final dollar numbers from the moving company, etc., I never received what the final dollar value was and never signed an agreement with the company. Now their attorney is telling me today that the emails of negotiating the relocation and receiving the funds that I owe the money back to them because I left the company prior to the 2 years that the agreement said (again did not sign).

The reason I left is due to the company loosing work and the future of the office I was working out off looked bleak. In a meeting that my supervisor had with me and others in our office the questions was asked of our supervisor if he knew what was going to happen with the office and any additional work and he told all of us that "I don't know what is going to happen here, but if you are presented an opportunity, I would not hesitate to take it."

Soon after he told us that I was presented with an opportunity with another company and I took the new position because it was a new project with 2+ years of steady work on the horizon. When I looked to make the move I checked to verify with the HR department if they had a copy of a signed relocation agreement and one could not be found. With that confirmation I gave my notice to my current employer.

With what information and details I have provided, does my previous employer have a leg to stand on?


Asked on 4/10/13, 7:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kristine Karila Law Office of Kristine S. Karila

It is not a simple yes or no. If your employer and/or attorney can piece together emails to show that there was an agreement, then they may have an argument that you owe the relocation pay. I strongly suggest that you consult with an employment law attorney. Gather the emails, the attorney's correspondence, anything related to the issue and contact an attorney for a phone consultation. 949-481-6909.

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Answered on 4/11/13, 10:50 am


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