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Just when you thought things were getting better... You can't fathom the depths that some employers will stoop to! It really take alot of gall to pull a stunt like this! The saga continues...
"It was a total lie. To this day I haven't read it," Gorman told Workers' Compensation Judge Bruce Q. Morin.
Just before Gorman's lawyer, Michael St. Pierre, withdrew from the case yesterday, he told Morin that he indeed had
informed Gorman of the agreement, including sending him three "very lengthy, detailed letters" specifying the terms.
St. Pierre reached the agreement in January with lawyers for Edgar Velasquez, the injured worker. Documents were
translated and sent to Velasquez in Mexico. But Gorman balked several weeks ago at a scheduled signing before Morin.
"He announced that he no longer required my services," St. Pierre said after yesterday's hearing. "I thought I had done
my very best to give him the best advice I could, under very difficult circumstances. They [clients] seek out our advice,
but they have the right to do what they want to do."
Velasquez sustained devastating injury in 2006 when a chainsaw kicked back and slashed his face open. He was then
working for Gorman, owner of Billy G's Tree Care.
Though state law entitles undocumented immigrants to pursue workers' compensation claims, Velasquez was arrested outside
the courthouse in August 2006, when he first tried to bring his case against Gorman. He was deported, but the federal
government granted him a humanitarian visa to return last fall and pursue his case. (Velasquez alleged that Gorman tipped
off immigration authorities.)
Morin yesterday granted Gorman until June 27 to find a new lawyer. Gorman declined comment as he left the courtroom.
Meanwhile, Velasquez's attorneys have filed a motion to hold Gorman in contempt. A contempt finding means Gorman could
face a $150,000 fine by the state Department of Labor and Training for not having workers' compensation at the time
Velasquez worked for him.
The settlement suspends that fine, as long as Gorman abides by its terms and pays Velasquez $300 a month for 10 months
out of the year, for the next 10 years.
Velasquez's lawyer, Maureen Gemma, of the law firm of Stephen J. Dennis, said she was shocked by Gorman's actions.
"He's claiming he never saw this agreement to this day... it's not true," Gemma said. "We were just about to put the
settlement through, and he refused to sign it. To date, he hasn't paid a penny."
Gemma added, "For the record, I was not happy with the settlement. I thought it was too little, and took too long" to
pay out. "For some reason, [Gorman] seems to think this settlement is unfair and he can do better. I'm shocked that he
is the one who wants to negate the settlement, since it was drafted in a way favorable to him."
Gemma said, "We speak to Edgar [in Mexico] regularly. He's patient as always. He's just a good person."
Nearly two dozen representatives of Fuerza Laboral (Power of Workers), sat in the courtroom yesterday in support of
Velasquez.
"He is not here today, but we are coming in his behalf," said Ana Chirino of Fuerza Laboral. "I wish the best to him,
and the best thing we can do is represent his voice, his soul and his life."
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PROVIDENCE - A groundbreaking settlement for an injured Mexican illegal immigrant was put in jeopardy yesterday when
the man's former employer, Warwick tree-company owner William J. Gorman Jr., asked that his lawyer be dismissed and told
a judge that he "had never even heard of" the $30,000 settlement agreement.