Termination for Cause: Crimes of Moral Turpitude
// Dallas, Texas, United States // Attorney Keith Clouse (Blog) // Keith Clouse
Some employment contracts contain a termination-for-cause provision that allows the company to terminate the executive’s employment without penalty if the executive is convicted of a “crime of moral turpitude.” The term refers to vile, depraved, or shameful conduct.
For the vast majority of executives, this is a clause that matters little; few executives contemplate committing—let alone being convicted of—any crime, regardless of the morality of the criminal conduct. That’s why many executives do not take issue with these clauses. Other executives (and their employment lawyers) prefer to list the specific acts that would warrant termination. This list could include things such as the executive’s conviction of offenses related to drugs or violence, the executive’s conviction of a crime related to the executive’s employment, or the executive’s conviction of a crime that is punishable by imprisonment or other confinement.
While the clause may never come into play, if an executive feels uneasy about the language used, he should negotiate with the employer before signing the agreement. To learn more about employment contracts for executives, contact an employment lawyer in your area. This article is presented by the employment law attorneys at Clouse Dunn LLP. For inquiries, send an email to debra@clousedunn.com or call (214) 239-2705.
Contact Keith Clouse
KEITH A. CLOUSE
Clouse Dunn LLP
214.220.2722 214.220.3833 ( fax) keith@clousedunn.com
