Last year, a Manhattan federal district judge reviewed a decision of a federal bankruptcy court and held that Lehman Brothers was not required to pay a $350,000 performance bonus referenced in the offer letter of a prospective employee who never provided services. In doing so, the Court observed that the Firm terminated the contractual relationship prior to the prospective employee performing work contemplated by the offer letter contract and prior to her official start date, and that there was no evidence that the bonus was intended as a “sign on” bonus to be paid prior to the performance of her duties. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has now affirmed the District Court. Ortegon v. Giddens, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 404 (2d Cir. Jan. 12, 2016).
Home > Federal Law Articles > FLSA > Holiday Pay, Gifts, Bonus > Second Circuit Affirms: Business Not Obligated to Pay $350,000 “Performance” Bonus to Prospective Employee Who Never Worked A Day