‘Chainsaw Al’ Calls His Ouster Unfair

Al Dunlap, fired last month as Sunbeam Corp. chairman after six months of losses, called his ouster unfair and said he’s certain he would have turned the largest U.S. small-appliance maker around in 1999.

Dunlap, 60, also said in a statement released Thursday that he has full confidence in the accuracy of financial statements issued during his two-year tenure.

Sunbeam warned last week that its 1997 statements may be inaccurate, and it hired an accounting firm to determine whether earnings must be restated.

Dunlap, nicknamed “Chainsaw Al” because he slashed jobs at Sunbeam and other companies, said Sunbeam has no choice but to honor an employment contract he signed in February.

“I believed in the future of Sunbeam and was confident that I would be able to turn it around,” Dunlap said. “What I object to is my dismissal on terms that are a clear violation of an unambiguous employment contract.”

A Sunbeam spokeswoman said the Delray Beach, Fla.-based company would have no comment on Dunlap’s statements.