Update: Fired Popeyes manager demanding $5.5 million in lieu of lawsuit

[TexasTowelie]

A pregnant woman who was fired from her job as a Popeyes restaurant manager over money taken during an armed robbery is now seeking $5.5 million in damages from the company.

Marissa Holcomb, former manager at the Channelview eatery, was on duty about 10:15 p.m. March 31 when a man with a gun ran in and took nearly $400 from the cash register. Holcomb was told she had to make up the money because she had left too much money in the cash drawer, but she refused and lost her job.

Holcomb has retained an attorney, Marc Bozeman of Houston, who has sent a demand letter to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen's headquarters in Atlanta as well as Z & H Foods Inc. in Houston, owner of the franchise where Holcomb worked.

In the demand letter sent Monday, Bozeman asked that the companies agree to pay Holcomb $5.5 million to settle her claims for exemplary damages. If they do not respond within 30 days, he said he will file a lawsuit on Holcomb's behalf in state district court.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/houston/article/Fired-Popeyes-manager-demanding-5-5-million-in-6233295.php

[Politicalboi]

1. All for $400.00

And Popeyes should have paid for ANY medical this employee may have needed having experienced a robbery. I hope she gets every penny.

[Gothmog]

2. These damages seem a little high

Texas has tort reform and so this lady will have a hard time getting these types of damages

[TexasTowelie]

3. Agreed, she will not receive the $5.5 million demand.

She did suffer some mental anguish and of course she lost her job, so she might get some sympathy from a jury. However, I doubt that any restaurant franchise is insured for more than $1,000,000.

She didn't suffer any physical injuries and mental anguish doesn't mean very much in Texas anymore. A jury might not be as lenient as one might believe because of the outrageous demand. My guess is that she will receive a settlement of $75k to $100k for wrongful termination which would likely represent about two years of her salary. Then her attorney will get a third of that settlement.