Thread: Ruling could impact larger Mohawk lawsuit& their illegal

Published: September 03, 2008 06:54 pm

Ruling could impact larger Mohawk lawsuit

Jamie Jones

A Mohawk Industries employee’s claim that the company fired him for reporting illegal aliens working at a Calhoun plant could affect a larger pending lawsuit.

Last week, a panel of judges with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld a ruling by U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy of Rome ordering Mohawk to release the details of conversations between former employee Norman Carpenter and company counsel Juan Morillo.

The case is tied to a lawsuit filed in January 2004 by four plaintiffs — former and current Mohawk employees Bonnie Jones, Gale Pelfrey, Lora Sisson and Shirley Williams — who allege Mohawk depressed the wages of legal workers by hiring illegal aliens, which they contend is in violation of state and federal racketeering laws. That case has made its way through several courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs tried to bring class action status to the case, but Murphy denied the request. That ruling is being appealed in the 11th Circuit.

Carpenter, a former shift supervisor at the Union Grove Road plant in Calhoun, said he reported to Mohawk’s human resources department that several temporary employees hired by Mohawk through a temporary employment agency were in the country illegally. After making his report, Carpenter said he was required to meet with Morillo, who represents Mohawk in the lawsuit filed in 2004. A day after the meeting, Mohawk fired Carpenter, he said.

Carpenter alleges the meeting between he and Morillo “was designed to coerce him into recanting his report,â€

This could be the single case that fires a shot across the bow of all larger companies that have illegals working for them. If the fired employee is successful in his suit, it will be open season on all companies that are doing the same thing.

Ex-employees will be lined up to blow the whistle on these companies.

This could be the start of something big!!

We need all of the help we can get!!!

This is awsome news! I agree, this case is going to be a big turning point against illegal immigration in this nation.