Caleb Giddings v. Media Lodge, Inc. et al

This is a Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA) case that is venued in South Dakota. The case involves Caleb Giddings, a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, taking military leave from his employer to attend basic training.  While Mr. Giddings was going through basic training, Media Lodge’s CEO, Jeff Siegel allegedly told one of Mr. Giddings’ co-workers that he was “concerned” over Mr. Giddings’ “loyalty” to the company because Mr. Giddings chose to join the military. Toward the end of Mr. Giddings’ military leave Mr. Siegel had a phone call in which Mr. Siegel questioned Mr. Giddings’ loyalty to the company and whether he was “committed” to Media Lodge given his military service.

Upon returning to work the company did not give him the lucrative sales accounts he had before his military duty. Company employees expressed displeasure that Mr. Giddings’ accounts performed poorly during Mr. Giddings’ military leave. A few weeks later the defendants terminated Mr. Giddings’ employment. A copy of Mr. Giddings’ complaint is available here.

The matter resolved in the September 2018 timeframe.