Georgia Pacific Beats Fired Worker’s $88,000 Severance Appeal

Georgia Pacific LLC defeated a lawsuit by a longtime employee who said the company fired him so he wouldn’t receive $88,000 in severance benefits, when the Eleventh Circuit ruled Monday that he was legitimately terminated for inflating workers’ hourly wages.

It’s “undisputed” that George Hawthorn made 28 errors in giving employees under his supervision higher hourly wages than they were entitled to in the period immediately before his termination, the court said.

“These errors, whether dishonest or sincere, are a legitimate reason for his termination that have nothing to do with his potential eligibility for ERISA benefits,” the court said. ...