Legal Question in Employment Law in Massachusetts
Wrongful Termination
My boss fired me because I refused to deposit a check from a tenant in our rental account. The tenant called and asked if I received his check for April. I told him yes, but he had already paid April's check by way of a pre-paid last month's rent which he paid when he signed his lease. The tenant told me to just shred the check. I told my boss I put the check in company safe; if he wanted to deposit the check he could. My boss said he wanted to hold the tenant responsible in case the ex-girlfriend (who is not on the lease) and her two children did not move out at end of lease which was 4/30/08. I told my boss the check was submitted for April's rent which was paid; no rent was outstanding; the ex-girlfriend was still in the house legally; we could not deposit the check as insurance for May's rent and use it for a purpose that the tenant did not intend. The tenant (Lessee) actually moved out August 2007, continued to pay on time through April 2008; and allowed his ex-girlfriend to live there until she found housing or to the end of the lease. The ex-girlfriend had indicated that she wanted to execute a new lease in her name but she had not come in to fill out an application with a co-signer by the date by boss fired me.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Wrongful Termination
I'm no sure I understand what your question is - are you asking if you were wrongfully terminated? Without more information I can't answer that question definitively. From the facts you give here you may have a claim for wrongful termination in violation of public policy if you were fired for refusing to violate the law or for complaining of a violation of law.