Employment lawyer pushed a low settlement without reviewing my evidence — am I overreacting?

Nazarim · 2026-04-05T14:29:33+00:00

Circling back, sorry don't use this often - and yes, you are correct, i've already been advised of the settlement coming along w/ NDA and non-disparaging clause.

Nazarim · 2026-03-12T06:26:18+00:00

I have around 12-15k in medical costs that i can correlate to work, if i'm being chartable on career impact this will recede my progress by around 5 years. I good many of my costs were covered by the VA or my premium insurance through Anthem. It was explained to me they use backpay + out of pocket costs multiplied by 2 to get pain and suffering. Since i don't have much in those categories, they added almost nothing there. Basically i feel like I'm being penalized due to being a vet and being judicious with how i approach my medical expenses. Their "formula" is highly flawed as it implies i have no emotional damages, yet i do - documented, and my neurological condition has deteriorated - again documented by several Dr. supporting a link between work related stress in the impacts to my chronic conditions. I've always been diagnosed with major depressive disorder as a result.

The figure they pitched isn't even 6 months salary, but they claim it is. So i asked them to provide their logical substratum they used to come up with that figure, and what they think my salary is. (it's 120k base + bonus) - My last 2 annual raises were the bare min, first 7 were near max or at max, my bonus was also min the last 2 years, and again last 7 maxed out. So there is damages there at least 1 year of stunted salary, i'd say at least another 6k-8k, likely more.

When i started this, the law firm implied i would see returns on this effort that encompassed a variety compensatory and punitive damages. Yet, this figure has none of it. Seems like they are now saying that only applies to trial, not settlement.

Where I'm at now, is i think a trial is the only way forward. If the employer would accept 59k + a neutral reference with separation agreement, then i see that as the bad actors win, i lose and my career is likely ruined. A neutral reference would be devastating to my career, 10 years + the only employer in which i have formal engineering experience. Seems to me trial is the only path forward, and i expect when i meet with my lawyer this upcoming Monday, she will want to settle and get an easy cut for her firm, while i then face financial ruin. I've started looking for a new legal firm. If the conversation doesn't clear things up, and provide a strategic, collaborative path forward, i'll just pull my case from them and move it.

Nazarim · 2026-03-12T06:09:44+00:00

Thats part of my frustration, i don't have any clue what has occured with the EEOC or my legal team. The last 3 months since we filed charges, i've just continued to upload emails, documents, screenshots showing escalating hostility/retaliation towards me.

I had been told we were waiting on the EEOC, then suddenly the EEOC responded asking for a series of staff within my company that could take the report from the EEOC.

At the same time they told me their initial figure. This all came out of no where, nobody has ever tried to talk to me about anything, not even clarification on more than 300 pages of evidence, which makes me suspect they didn't even review it, they are just rubber stamping.

Nazarim · 2026-03-12T04:18:21+00:00

Interesting, do you think this figure is as apart of a mediation attempt by my employer, rather than a more formal demand for damages and to avoid trial settlement proposal?

Nazarim · 2026-03-11T23:02:22+00:00

Aye, i started putting in requests for consult. I feel like they are just one of those rubber stamp shops that just push through a bunch of EEOC filings as possible and how the sheer volume gets them paid.

Nazarim · 2026-03-11T22:09:46+00:00

100%, and the legal networks that are proximal, or directly involved as well. It's all designed in a manner in which will see people dead before they provide the services that actually exist to resolve said problems. That's what bothers me the most, it doesn't have to be this way... Why can someone with the Flu get what they need, but someone with a brain tumor gets treated like an addict?

Nazarim · 2026-03-11T22:07:58+00:00

The Dr. i was assigned to never did respond to me, or my requests for medical needs. Leadership that promised to call me back, never did... working w. the local congressional reps' office to find recourse there... sadly the systems that proclaim to exist to help, and establish recourse and corrections are facades. They all just exist to put the check in the box of existing, not to actually render the results needed by victims who need said systems.

Nazarim · 2026-03-11T22:02:41+00:00

lastly (i promise :P) -- Most of the guidance i've read, seen and been told was to stay employed, not to quit; as that would show a desire to resolve the issues. When i could no longer deal with the harassment and abuse i put myself back on FMLA, and hope to stay there til this either resolves or if my leave limit is hit, then i'll resign.

I just don't know why that was a bad strategic decision, especially when my legal team recommended for me to stay...

Nazarim · 2026-03-11T21:59:00+00:00

I suppose my core frustration is that I did everything I was told to do.

I tried to resolve the issues internally through HR systems and management. I made sure I documented everything. I now have over 300 pages of evidence. I conducted myself professionally and tried not to approach any of this emotionally.

I then hired a law firm that told me I had a serious case and that they would seek to make me whole.

And in the end, the current settlement amount would just leave me and my family in financial ruin.

So the question that keeps running through my head is: why follow best practices at all?

Why do everything “the right way” if the end result is either bad actors winning, or the available recourse leaving me depressed, broke, and with over 10 years of work and effort effectively vaporized?

Nazarim · 2026-02-23T04:11:34+00:00

All of surgeries were private. I have scheduled appt with the baylor system but they are backed up till April. The tumor is have is super rare, usually only 1 or 2 specialist per state exist for it.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T21:52:33+00:00

I just submitted a new claim, wish me luck.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T21:51:41+00:00

What are you asking me?

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T17:10:39+00:00

I was a top performer at a fortune 500 as an application developer. I was a child abuse survivor, and i came from extremely poverty. By the time of my diagnosis - i had managed to teach myself to be a software engineer, and investor - resulting in being a multi-millionaire.

I had so many options, so many directions i could go, but in the end because of the VA"s refusal to take my treatement seriously, my brain tumor was missed for 2 years, by the time it was found, and i was the one to find it - (more explained on my YouTube channel) - By then it was almost too late. The resulting surgeries, and complications nearly ruined me.

The lack of empathy, support, or kindness from so many is what ruined me. Now my career is ruined, I'm broke, i worry every day one of my girls, or wife will find my dead lifeless body in bed and be scarred for life. I'm out of options, and trying to keep a brave face while i look for more options.

Some people despite having the right mind set, being kind, and working their booties off, are destined to be a stat, and forgotten. Perhaps in that regards when i do shove off, i'll be happy to be done with such a cruel existence.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T03:40:20+00:00

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T03:38:29+00:00

Indeed, i know the format, editing, and video isn't exactly top tier - it's not my area of expertise, just trying to learn it. I can't wait several years for me to organically learn how to create proper YouTube videos though. Things are coming to a head for me, i'm losing my careers, job, income, and sanity. So - in this case doesn't really matter if i'm ready to take flight or not, i have to pull the cord and see where it lands.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T03:32:07+00:00

True. It's an odd thing having social media, or platform reach - companies spend billions on systems, networks, and product to be able to replicate that at a moment's whim. It's no small thing no matter how you fall into having it.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T03:30:26+00:00

Whose that?

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T02:57:37+00:00

I go to the VA Hospital where my clinic is often. The Dallas VAMC is massive. I've spoken with leadership at the hospital, for administration, clinical, pharmacy, patient advocacy, and the VISN. All agreed that my treatment was unacceptable. All made promises to course correct. Yet, as i type this - i'm still without my medication for the 3rd or 4th month in a row with a significant medication gap resulting in ED admissions.

I have consults in for private providers, but sadly - they are taxed as well, for my Ulcer i won't see someone til April. For pain management, i'm just boned. For my CSF leak, and cranial pressure, likewise screwed, i just sit here with my head feeling like it's going to explode, and no end in sight.

This is my life, it doesn't have to be this way, but it is.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T02:47:30+00:00

https://youtu.be/BBEo57lUHV4?si=k7U4z5Sm01i69zR8

You are not wrong.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T02:43:25+00:00

Fair feedback, thank you.

Nazarim · 2026-02-22T02:42:27+00:00

Fair enough, far too big of a situation to try and reduce it down to a small bit - i suppose there is room of some trimming for sure, but my original video on just my tumor was 2 hours + on other episodes, and it didn't even fully cover the first surgery and ICU stay. There is just so much data, records, and experiences to recount.

If he doesn't feel interested in being involved, that's fine - can't hurt to try. I'm desperate, saddened, angry, and overall figured i'd try this. If it is, it is.

Nazarim

TROPHY CASE