What to do if our accountant just quit and is holding company property as hostage until she receives her final pay?
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What to do if our accountant just quit and is holding company property as hostage until she receives her final pay?
She was also the administrator of our website and email systems. When she quit, she took all the files, computer, accounting equipment to process checks and credit cards and misc. other equipment and put it in a storage unit. This just happened yesterday while I was out of town. Is this legal?
Asked on May 22, 2012 under Employment Labor Law, Tennessee
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
No, it is not legal. If person A owes person B money, that does NOT give person B the right to take property of person A (outside very narrow circumstances which do not apply here--e.g. if property were made collateral or security for a debt). What your accountant has done is both a civil tort or wrong--something you can sue over--and a criminal act: she committed a form of theft, as well as tortious interference with your business. You can can sue for the return of the property (or for its value, if stolen, damaged, destroyed) and for any losses you have suffered (e.g. lost profits) due to her interference; you could also contact the police and press charges.
You do have to pay her the final paycheck, though--her own wrongful act does not absolve you of your obligation to pay her.
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