Boss Fired For Not Firing Workers Wins $47 Million Award From Jury

Brecksville, OH (AHN) - For Ronald Luri, getting fired for not firing employees was worth it after a jury in Cuyahoga County, Ohio awarded him nearly $47 million in compensation for lost income and punitive damage.

The 55-year-old former general manager for trash hauler Republic Services Inc. said he was vindicated upon learning of the award, the largest ever in Ohio's history, issued by a Common Pleas Court jury on Thursday.

The trash-hauling company's Cleveland office fired Luri of Brecksville on April 27, 2007 for alleged "inadequate performance and failure to follow the directives of his superiors" when he refused to fire three employees, all about 60, on grounds that such action constitutes age discrimination.

Luri did not immediately file a wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuit but later did so when his employer invoked a non-compete clause in his contract that prevented him from working at a competitor of Republic Services.

Luri also accused the firm of forging documents to make it appear that his job performance was poor.

Republic's lawyers reportedly plan to appeal the decision.