Former Employee Sues Michael Waltrip Racing

[dpkimmel2001]

Saw this yesterday and didn't see anything posted but I may have missed it.

A former tire changer is suing Michael Waltrip Racing, claiming the team “blacklisted” him by falsely accusing him of stealing a pit gun, according to The Charlotte Observer.

The newspaper reported that Brandon Hopkins is suing the team in Mecklenburg County (N.C.) Superior Court. Hopkins contends that MWR’s action cost him an unpaid internship with another NASCAR Sprint Cup team and paid work with a Camping World Truck Series team.

A spokesman for Michael Waltrip Racing told the Observer that the team doesn’t comment on litigation matters. Hopkins was injured while changing tires for Clint Bowyer’s team Sept. 2013 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Hopkins completed his work on the right side and was running in front of the car when Bowyer exited, hitting Hopkins, according to the Observer. Hopkins felt pain in his shoulder. He went to rehab but that failed to stop the pain. He was sent to a doctor in March 2014 for a cortisone shot but that didn’t alleviate the pain, the Observer reported the lawsuit stating. He eventually had surgery Aug. 7, 2014.

read the whole story here

 

[dpkimmel2001]

The made up.....

Former tire changer Brandon Hopkins has settled his lawsuit against Michael Waltrip Racing. Hopkins had claimed he was fired from his $160,000-a-year job in 2014 because he asked to have shoulder surgery and that MWR, which claimed he had stolen a pit gun, told other teams not to hire him. Statement: "The Parties to this litigation are pleased to announce that they have amicably resolved their disputes in their entirety, and wish each other well in the future. Michael Waltrip Racing acknowledges that Brandon was a talented tire changer and wishes him well in the sport. Brandon acknowledges that he enjoyed his years with Michael Waltrip Racing and wishes his former teammates well in the future."

http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0717393903308773933-4

 

[Ford 222]

Awww....how sweet.

BTW, thanks for the update. Was compelled since Jan of 2015....lol

 

[KyBuownsyourbrain]

It's amazing what lawyers can get others to say before and after they've collected their fees.

 

[kkfan91]

How do you go from 160k to an unpaid internship?

 

[aunty dive]

Thief sues morally and financially bankrupt raceteam.

I always enjoy a happy ending.

 

[Allenbaba]

Good for Brandon! I wonder what college will accept a written acknowledgment of how good a tire changer he was as tuition for his kids' education.

 

[Formerjackman]

Do we know whether Brandon got a nice fat check to say nice things about MWR? I have absolutely no idea who is right or wrong in this case, or even what the prevailing opinion is among the watchers, but when lawsuits are "amicably settled" usually somebody gets some cash to go away. Personally, I don't have a very high opinion of Kaufman, but that doesn't make him guilty either.