Wrongful Termination? Previous employer appealing unemployment

[lifted97zj]

Hi I live in Kentucky and I was fired from my job in December 07. I was an operations manager for a company in the multi-family housing market. Before i accepted employment with this company in Jan 07 I was told what my salary would be and that at Christmas I would receive a $2000.00 bonus. Well the year went good I was never wrote up for any problems. Well Christmas comes around I am expecting that great bonus I was promised and I receive $200.00 at the company Christmas party. Of course I was pretty mad but never said anything to the owner because I didn't want to make a scene at his party. I did however talk to a few co-worker/friends and told them that I can't believe he would be like this ( everyone's bonus was very small) . And that I was thinking about trying to eventually find a new job. So my wife and I go home (which was over 2 hours from my job) on Saturday night, I drive back to work on Monday morning the owner calls me up to his office and tells me I am fired. He says if I am going to look for another job then he was just going to fire me and he didn't appreciate how I acted at the party by ignoring him and not speaking. So of course I call my wife and family members upset because I was fired. He payed me 2 weeks severance pay. so after that 2 weeks I filed for unemployment and of course he appeals it stating that I quit. So I tell my side of the story and they agree with me that this was not reason to be fired. Well now he is appealing it again and I have to do a teleconference with a "referee" (judge I presume?) my previous employer, his attorney, any witnesses he wants, myself, my attorney (if I want one) and any of my witnesses.If I was going to quit why would I drive over 2 hours to say I quit then drive 2 hours back home?!?!?!Plus he made me work the rest of the day after he fired me! So I guess here's my question 1. do I have a wrongful termination case and 2. how can I ensure that I won't lose my unemployment because I would have to payback over $3000.00 and I am having trouble finding employment right now because our job market is very small in this area. Sorry to be such long winded but I thought if I was going to get advice I should throw all the facts out there. Thank You for any help!!

 

[seniorjudge]

Just tell your story to the referee and hope for the best.

 

[lifted97zj]

WOW I figured I would have more responses than this

WOW I figured I would have more responses than this

 

[cbg]

Nothing in your post even remotely suggests wrongful termination.

For the record, whether you do or do not receive UI has NOTHING to do with whether you have a wrongful term claim or not. You do not, even if you eventually get UI. The vast majority of people collecting UI were legally terminated.