A Texas woman alleged online that her former employer forged her signature, which she claimed ultimately caused her to lose a six-figure job offer.
The woman shared a post on the r/legal subreddit identifying herself as 29 years old and asking for legal advice. She said she had worked as a senior operations coordinator for three years before receiving an offer from another logistics firm with a 40% salary increase. After accepting the offer, she gave her former employer two weeks’ notice. However, what happened next shocked everyone.
The woman said that three days before her scheduled start date at the new company, she received a call from them. They informed her that the offer had been rescinded. She claimed that her former employer had sent the new company’s legal department a formal cease-and-desist letter. They alleged that she was “violating an active two-year non-compete agreement under Texas law.”
The woman insisted that she had never signed a non-compete agreement. She then demanded a copy of the document her former employer had sent to the new company. In response, her former employer sent her a PDF containing an electronic signature that was allegedly dated three years earlier.
Although the contract initially appeared valid, the woman said she conducted further research and discovered that it was allegedly forged. She claimed that she extracted the PDF’s raw metadata and found that the file had “actually created and digitally signed four days ago—two weeks after I resigned.” Based on this, she accused her former employer of forging her signature and using her old tax paperwork to interfere with her new job. “They literally forged my signature using my old tax paperwork to sabotage my new job,” she wrote.
The woman alleged that the new company was still refusing to rehire her because it did not want to face potential legal exposure. She added that her former boss had “destroyed” her livelihood with the alleged forged agreement. “My former boss destroyed my livelihood with a blatently fraudulant contract,” she wrote. She ended her post by asking, “Can I sue them for tortious interference and fraud in Texas? What type of attorney do I retain to file criminal charges for the forgery?”
If the allegations were proven true, the former employer could potentially face both criminal and civil consequences in Texas. Knowingly forging a signature on a contract with the intent to defraud or harm someone can constitute forgery under Texas Penal Code §32.21, and forgery involving a contract is generally a third-degree felony.
She could also potentially pursue a claim for tortious interference with a prospective business relationship if she can establish that she was reasonably likely to enter the new employment relationship, the former employer intentionally used unlawful conduct to prevent it, and she suffered actual financial harm as a result. Depending on the evidence, other civil claims, including fraud, could also potentially be available.
Internet Users Left Shocked Over Texas Woman’s Situation
Redditors were shocked by what the Texas woman alleged happened with her former employer, and many offered advice on how she should proceed. “Oh yeah, you absolutely have to get an attorney. Like yesterday. Also, never never never never ever ever ever tell anyone where you’re going. Never,” one person wrote. Another commenter advised her, “Time to hire a real Employment lawyer.” In response, the woman said, “On it. Reaching out to local employment firms right now to evaluate the PDF metadata proof.”
More people said they hope the former employer would face consequences if the allegations proved true. “Sounds like you got all the answers you were after.. I’m just one more voice excited for you to nail em to the [Expletive] wall.. Salt the earth, sue for damages, end careers, shut that [expletive] place down, put strictnine in the guacamole.. /Seething excited rant,” one commenter wrote. Another person told her, “Congratulations. This kind of targeted fraud is going to pay off big time in court. You might be able to retire.”
The situation the woman allegedly experienced raised concerns about actions employers could take against former employees who leave for new jobs. It also emphasized the importance of seeking legal advice when facing serious employment disputes or allegations of wrongdoing.
