Latest news with #Estepp
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
High school coach charged with sex crimes
GRAYSON A Carter County man and staff member of a local high school was jailed on Wednesday on multiple sex crimes, allegedly involving minors. Harlee Estepp, 28, of Grayson, was briefly lodged in Boyd County Detention Center before being transferred to Carter County after a grand jury indicted Estepp this week on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and procuring a minor child via electronic means. According to social media and numerous news reports, Estepp was the head track and field coach at Ashland Blazer High School, and per previous publications in TDI, was also on coaching staff for the school's football program. Per Estepp's indictment, he allegedly committed two separate instances of sexual abuse by subjecting a minor younger than 16 to sexual contact or 'engag(ed) in masturbation in the presence of the minor,' or 'engag(ed) in masturbation while using the Internet, telephone or other electronic communication device while communicating with a minor.' The class-D felonies occurred between August 2021 and May 2022, records show. A final charge of procuring or promoting a minor via electronic means occurred during the same time frame, where prosecutors allege Estepp utilized the internet or communication device to 'induce the minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities,' according to court records. As of this writing, Estepp is still lodged in the Carter County Detention Center and is scheduled for arraignment before Carter Circuit Judge Rebecca Phillips on March 26 at 1 p.m.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Michigan mom says she was fired after taking leave to care for her dying daughter with cancer — now she's suing
A Detroit mom is fighting back after alleging she was fired from her bank job where she worked for 30 years because she took legal medical leave to care for her cancer-stricken daughter. Terri Estepp's daughter, Samantha, passed away at the age of 31 — just days after her mom was fired, according to local Michigan station 13 On Your Side. A near-record number of Americans are grappling with $1,000 car payments and many drivers can't keep up. Here are 3 ways to stay ahead 5 ways to boost your net worth now — easily up your money game without altering your day-to-day life Home prices in America could fly through the roof in 2025 — here's the big reason why and how to take full advantage (with as little as $10) Estepp, 51, had used up her vacation days caring for her daughter, who had been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2023. She also used some time off through the bank's Caretaker Time Off program, according to Local 4. But as Samantha's prognosis worsened, Estepp used four of the 12 weeks available to her under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law that's meant to protect your job during unpaid medical leave. Estepp stated that she returned to work after four weeks, but when she found out her daughter's condition was quickly declining, she asked for additional medical leave (she still had eight weeks available under the FMLA). 'I told my employer I needed to go back to my kid,' Estepp told 13 On Your Side. 'She needed me, and they showed up that day and they fired me.' Estepp is now suing her former employer, Huntington Bank, alleging she was wrongfully denied her FMLA benefits through the termination of her employment. In a statement to Local 4, Huntington Bank said that while it doesn't comment on active litigation, '[It's] committed to compliance with all employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, and [it] acted appropriately in this matter.' The bank further stated that 'Ms. Estepp's departure from Huntington Bank was unrelated to an FMLA leave of absence.' Estepp, for her part, claims she was never given a reason for being fired. 'I want people to know that what they did was wrong, so they don't do this to someone else,' she told Local 4. Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Michigan is an 'at-will' state, which means both employer and employee can terminate the employment at any time for almost any reason. So, by law, employers can terminate an employee at will, without cause or notice. Michigan repealed its 'right-to-work' law last year to become an 'at-will' state, making it the first reversal since states rolled out 'right-to-work' laws in the 1940s. However, the termination can't violate any state or federal laws (such as wrongfully denying FMLA benefits). The FMLA provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year 'for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave,' according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This includes caring for 'the employee's spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition.' In an 'at-will' state, an employer can still fire you after taking family medical leave — but they can't fire you because you took family medical leave. So, Estepp will need to prove she was fired specifically over her FMLA leave of absence. While the numbers vary, one Nolo study found that 64% of respondents received compensation for a wrongful termination lawsuit when they had the help of a lawyer (while only 30% received compensation without the help of a lawyer). If you're about to request family medical leave, get to know the Family and Medical Leave Act so you understand how it works and which actions your employer can legally take. But you'll also want to check your company's specific FMLA policies. Every company is slightly different. For example, you may be required to use up your paid leave before you can take FMLA benefits. Make sure to document your request in writing — don't do it over the phone. Save all correspondence, from the approval of your request to any FMLA paperwork that your doctor sent to your employer. If you've been terminated after taking family medical leave and believe it's unjust, you can start by documenting the details of your termination. If possible, get a specific reason for your termination in writing from your employer. Keep any letters, emails, texts or other documents related to the termination. From there, you can contact an employment law attorney who can help you determine if you have a case. You may be able to settle out of court and get your old position back, if that's what you want. Otherwise, you could seek damages in court if your lawyer thinks it's likely to be worth your while. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) 'Savers are losers': Robert Kiyosaki warned that millions of 401(k)s and IRAs will be 'toast' — here's his advice for older Americans who want to protect their wealth Suze Orman: If you think you're ready to retire, think again — 4 critical money moves to avoid a financial crisis in retirement This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan woman claims she was fired for taking time off to care for dying daughter
HOWELL, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — A woman is suing her former employer, Huntington Bank in Howell, after she says she was fired for taking a leave of absence to take care of her dying daughter. Just days after losing a job she was repeatedly praised for in performance reviews, Terri Estepp lost her only daughter, Samantha, to cancer. "It was an incredible shock," said Sarah Prescott, an attorney representing Estepp in her federal lawsuit against her former employer, Huntington Bank. In 2024, Estepp took sick days and a Family and Medical Leave of Absence to care for her daughter, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. "It's a law that you have to do all the right paperwork and ask on time. Terri had done all of that," said Prescott. But just days after returning to work, Estepp claims her boss told her they were letting her go. "She walks down the line, hugging her staff, who literally two months before she'd been praised for being such a great leader and inspiration to them, and she walks out the door," Prescott said. The federal lawsuit filed this week in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan claims Estepp had repeated positive work reviews from everyone she worked with, and as a manager, she claims she led the Howell branch to be one of Huntington's most successful branches in the country. Attorney Jon Marko said that defense attorneys for corporations often advise against terminating an employee after utilizing FMLA, but there's no hard and fast rule against it. "FMLA is a federal law. It's a right of all employees, and an employer cannot punish you or retaliate against you," Marko said. "Best employer practices is you better have a really good reason if somebody comes back from FMLA to terminate them right away. "Let's say an employee comes back from FMLA and they punch their coworker in the face because they're having a bad day. As a good employer, you're probably going to be able to easily terminate and justify that termination. But if somebody comes back from work from FMLA and a day later they're fired for no really good reason, that employer is going to have a problem." Huntington Bank issued the following statement regarding the lawsuit. "While Huntington Bank does not comment on active litigation, we are committed to compliance with all employment laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, and we acted appropriately in this matter."
