mother-in-law asked to resign

[daughter-in-law]

south carolina. my mother-in-law was recently asked to resign from her 13 year job as assistant manager and 1 year job of manager of a local school lunch room. the reason is because the manager before her stole $4000.00 from the school and they claim that she knew about it and did not report it. my mother states that she did not know what exactly was going on, and if she did that she had no proof to turn her in, so she kept silent. The manager quit last year and is now no where to be found. the school just discovered this theft a few weeks ago. they went to my mother and said that she either pay the 4000.00 and resign or they would put her in jail. being afraid, she paid it and left. Did the school have the right to do this? They say that if they were to find the other manager and go to court then they could both go to jail. They do admit that they don't believe that my mother took the money. Is there anything we can do?

 

[loku]

Possible liability

If your mother knew of the robbery and did not inform the school, she could POSSIBLY have some criminal liability as an accomplice, or under some other theory . Her statement that “she did not know what exactly was going on, and if she did that she had no proof to turn her in, so she kept silent” could possibly be used against her. In cases like these, the actual facts are often less important than what could be inferred or proven.

I would suggest that before your mother does anything else about this, she get advice from a local criminal law attorney, just to make sure that she is not opening herself up to criminal charges. If she is advised that there is not danger, then she might be able to sue the school for the return of the $4,000.

Please note that I said she might possibly have some criminal liability. It might not be the case.