Woman Wins $24,000 in Suit Over Claim on Husband’s Pay

A Glendora woman won a $24,000 out-of-court settlement Monday from an employer she said fired her former husband because his wages were attached to pay child support.

Linda Stevenson, 36, claimed in her $1-million Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit that Watkins Motor Lines of Vernon had fired John Stevenson in September because a court ordered the company to deduct child support payments from his wages and send the money to her.

Gloria Allred, Stevenson’s attorney, said Monday that the company has settled the case out of court by agreeing to pay $24,000, which includes all child support owed by Stevenson plus damages for the woman’s pain and suffering and her attorney fees.

The suit claimed that Watkins violated a state Civil Code section banning dismissals because of wage assignments.

Allred said a court ruling, made while the case was pending, established that ex-spouses and children have the right to sue companies for firing their breadwinner. The company had claimed that only a former employee could file suits concerning his dismissal.

“This case will serve as a warning to employers that the wage assessment law was passed for the protection of children,” Allred said.

The mother sought a court order assigning part of her husband’s wages last year, when his delinquent support payments for Karen, 14, and Darrin, 10, totaled $6,900.

Allred said the mother received only one payment from the company before getting a letter from her former husband’s attorney notifying her that the man had been fired because of the wage assignment.