Law Firm Answers Questions from TBW Employees

Law firm answers questions from TBW employees

By Suevon Lee
Staff writer

Published: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, August 17, 2009 at 1:40 p.m.

Attorneys from the law firm of Raisner Roupinian LLP were in Ocala Sunday afternoon to answer questions from former Taylor, Bean & Whitaker employees regarding the impact of the company’s shutdown on their medical coverage and other benefits.

The New York-based employee rights’ firm filed a class-action lawsuit last week on behalf of the 2,000-plus Taylor Bean workers abruptly laid off nationwide when the wholesale mortgage lender ceased its lending operations on Aug. 5.

At Ocala headquarters alone, close to 1,000 individuals lost their jobs.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleges that the employees had a 60 days’ right to notice of the layoffs under the federal WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act.

Sunday’s meeting took place at the India Association Cultural and Education Center, formerly The Knights of Columbus, on Northeast 36th Avenue.

“People were still trying to make sense of what had happened and trying to get their lives back together to some extent,” said Rene S. Roupinian, an attorney with the firm.

On top of the layoffs, workers learned Friday of their loss to benefits.

“This is a one-two punch. They’ve lost their jobs, and now they’ve been told they lost their health insurance,” Roupinian said, adding former employees may not be eligible for COBRA benefits because of the termination of their UnitedHealthcare plan.

The law firm, which is representing scores of employees who worked around the country at Taylor Bean’s branch offices, was in Atlanta Monday morning holding a similar session.

Attorneys may return to Ocala for a follow-up informational session, said Roupinian.

“People have a lot of questions and it seems this is the easiest way to respond to the employees’ questions and concerns,” she said.