“Apple Inc. was sued by Wayne Goodrich, who says he was a confidant, sounding board and close adviser to company co-founder Steve Jobs and was fired for no legitimate reason despite Jobs’s promise of job security,” Karen Gullo reports for Bloomberg.
“Goodrich said he was fired in December for what Apple said were ‘business reasons’ not connected to his performance, according to a complaint filed Aug. 17 in California state court in San Jose,” Gullo reports. “Goodrich, who worked for Jobs since 1998, was promised by late chairman of the world’s most valuable company in a one-on- one meeting in May 2005 that he would always have a job at Apple, according to the complaint.”
Gullo reports, “The conversation took place after Jobs’s return from medical leave to receive treatment for pancreatic cancer, Goodrich said. ‘This express promise by Steve Jobs was consistent with a practice that Steve Jobs had, acting on behalf of defendant Apple, of promising job security to certain key employees who worked directly with him for many years,’ Goodrich said in the complaint.”
“Goodrich said he played a key role working with Jobs to coordinate major product events such as the debut of the iPhone and iPad. The keynote speeches — and the resulting media coverage — have been a critical part of Apple’s strategy for introducing new devices,” Gullo reports. “Goodrich was assured by Jobs in 2010 that he would be given another job at Apple if anything happened to his position and Jobs wasn’t around, according to the complaint. Jobs died in October at age 56 after battling a rare form of cancer. Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer, took over as chief executive officer.”
Read more in the full article here.
Show a signed & notarized contract, or it ain’t real.
Sorry, ChinStrap, a verbal contract is “real.” Proving it can be a problem, as it will be here. If he worked at Apple since 1998, and if he participated with SJ in the ways he said, then this does seem like he might have a case. Whether is can be proven or not is a different, but substantial issue.
If Tim Cook knew about his status, or even suspected his status, yet got rid of him anyway, it could be yet another flag in the on-going evaluation of the new CEO. It seems they could have offered him a severance package he couldn’t refuse if they really wanted to get rid of him. Likely, they’ll end up doing something similar in whatever settlement they agree on.
How many others might make the same claim with a leg to stand on? Hard to know. I like to think that SJ did take care of his long time employees as any of us would like to be treated…assuming he’s actually doing his job with the right attitude.
Why do so many people want to find a way to shaft this guy? Let’s say that SJ actually told his this. I have no reason to doubt it at this juncture. If someone had said the same to you, and you relied on it, would you not be really upset if someone else moves in and ignores that promise?
Based on his background at Apple, I think he’ll be able to make a case. Again, my worry is now whether this will be another black mark for TC. We should wait to see how this unfolds.
I’m not sure how enforceable the unwritten contract with someone who is sadly passed away, I do wish this man best of luck, but that sounds like a tough lawsuit.
It’s his word, and his alone. Without a signed contract specifying what SJ said, then I’d say he hasn’t a hope.
One thing not noted in article is according to this guys website he’s writing a book “SteveNote” about his work. I wonder if that became an issue before or after his firing, I don’t think Jobs would have appreciated it either way.
DOA claim without signed agreement.
Wrong, Breeze.
NOT. No way to prove it and Steve aint here to say what.
DOA.
Breeze, you have not a smidgen of understanding as to how contract law operates, yet you continue to hold that ignorance up for all to see. You’re clearly a kid who’s got a lot of growing up to do. Proof is indeed more difficult where a verbal contract is alleged. But it is hardly “DOA.”
Hey sonny boy wipe the milk from your lips, what ive forgotten you have uet to learn…DOA.
Yet
I don’t wish him ANY luck, clearly a “hanger-on” trying to take advantage of a great man who passed away. If he brought value they would keep him. Clearly Jobs provided for his family and his “key” employees. Jobs was well aware of his mortality if he planned to employ this joker “for life” he would have put it in writing.
Sounds like you convinced yourself that you knew Steve Jobs or something.
So, don’t be hating.
He had a job for life, Steve’s life.
His argument is that he “..was assured by Jobs in 2010 that he would be given another job at Apple if anything happened to his position and Jobs wasn’t around.”
I would agree, except this is in California, so all bets are off.
Lesson learned here. Get all employment promises in writing, no matter who your boss is. Period.
Everyone is so hung up on the fact that there is nothing in writing. I don’t think it would hold up even *if* it were a written contract. Without Jobs at the helm (or even still alive), the new CEO should be able to make those decisions for the company now regardless. Its not like he can help prepare for any more SteveNotes for product releases, and Tim needs his own man in that role. If that’s all Goodrich brought to the table, letting him go was a good business decision.
Steve promised me 10 percent of his fortune for never having bothered him. Excuse me while I call my lawyer.
“job for life”, what, he thinks this is a communist country?
In Soviet Russia, jobs have you!
Yakov Smirnoff reference. +103238320984932843
56 years old.
Of course I already knew that, but to be honest, seeing Steve’s age when passing again in the story hit me hard. Steve passed away too young.
Douglas Adams was 49. Never even made it to 50.
It would have ben oh so ironic if he died at 42. But we get the point. Live to be 70, otherwise life is too short.
Some would say (and I’m one of them) that even 70 is too, too short.
Steve would agree. To paraphrase, in his biography Steve found it difficult to believe that you live for a few decades, learn some stuff maybe gain a little bit of wisdom and then poof! it’s all gone.
In fact, it seems that most of the world’s geniuses only just started to discover things when their life suddenly ended. Most of the masters only became masters just as their age started to effect their work.
Imagine if Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Bach, Einstein and Edison had lived to even 200 years of age. Einstein would be in his prime right now if that was the case.
Human life seems to be artificially programmed to end just as its getting started.
He was promised a job for life. Steve just didn’t make clear who’s life it was. Lol
Show us the Proof as everyone else has indicated, or it didn’t happen.
If Steve made this promise then he would of taken care of this, Reports said Steve had been taking care of last minute business including the people around him for more then a month due to being aware that his time left was very short.
I find it hard to believe that this was not discussed with his Attorney and not included in the last minute business with his estate if it was so important as “Goodrich” Suggests.
“Employment for life”, heh? I guess that could be solved relatively easy when you have 120 billions in the bank…
How many times had Steve said at a Keynote that “this” is not the way to go and then a few years later, Apple trots out their new “this” product? And Steve is on tape saying it, which is better than any ole contract or notarized letter! So one could say he was playing the cards close to his vest regarding the direction of Apple future products or one could say Steve talks out of his ass and says things willy nilly and to offer lifetime employment was just one of those times, but to summarily dismiss this guys claims as DOA because it’s not notarized, no paper contract, etc. has very little validity.
I’d look to Steve’s past to see if this was plausible by asking, if anyone at Steve’s companies, Apple, Next, Pixar, can come forward and say that Steve offered them the same deal. If not, then the Keynote guy is a very special rare bird indeed!
True, Steve has changed direction. But what was originally the right answer often chances as the years go by and circumstances change. Only a fool sticks to his original course if it’s evolved into a negative plan as time passes and the future unfolds in a new direction.
I think changing his direction was always a plus in Steve’s genius column.
I agree with you in principle. However, there have been times (like right now, actually) when Apple seems to be zigging and zagging a little too much for many of their customers to keep up with. It’s one thing if all you do is read email and surf the web. But so many people rely on Apple hardware and software to earn their daily bread… There are times when Apple appears to be insensitive to the practical needs of its customers.
I agree. It appears most posting here have no idea about the legality of verbal contracts. If this guy can prove that Jobs did offer others such agreements, then has definite points to his case.
However, even if it’s true, I doubt anyone is going to step forward to verify such a deal. Most, if not all, such people would be higher ups.
Just read the linked article. Wow.
This isn’t just about a “lifetime job”. If this guy did what he says he did with Jobs (outside of being a sounding board and confidant), then there should be sources of verification outside of Apple… and this guy will have a valid case.
I agree. However two points to consider: 1) Is California a “right to work” state? If so, unless you have proof of contract and no evidence to support that you broke your end of said contract, you can quit or be fired for no reason. 2) Who holds the burden of proof? Prosecution can call witnesses (top players) and ask if they have ever had conversations that state or imply that their employment is secure. If there is a history of this then he may have a case. At the same time not even Steve had a guarantee. The board decides that as Steve very well knows from experience.
In the end, Apple will likely give this guy a few million to go away, save some legal fees and avoid bad press.
Steve said he would have his job for life, but not who’s life.
Jobs passed and so did the Career.
I’m guessing Goodrich pissed off the wrong person or someone questioned what his role was with the company and because Steve is no longer around to do anything about it, they found some lame-o excuse and got rid of him. After 12 years with the company I was let go for a lame-o excuse as well. I wish him good luck.