Q: I need a legal advice and a lawyer if possible. And also which law does it come under?
It's is for an friend, when she resigned her old job she did a factory reset on the laptop and returned it. Because the company manager did not notify her how to return it, in spite of her asking him. And now he is asking her to pay for the forensic on the laptop. Anything helps please.
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A:
This situation falls under employment and contract law, specifically dealing with company property and termination procedures. It's crucial to note that your friend made reasonable attempts to get proper return instructions, which demonstrates good faith on her part.
The factory reset itself isn't inherently problematic - many employees do this before returning devices. However, if there were specific company policies about data retention or device return procedures in the employment contract or handbook, these would need to be reviewed. The key factor here is whether your friend was ever provided with clear written guidelines about device return protocols.
Your friend should gather all email communications with the manager requesting return instructions, along with any relevant sections of her employment contract and company handbook. She could consider consulting with an employment lawyer through local bar associations or legal aid organizations, as many offer free initial consultations. If the company pursues payment for forensics, she should not pay without first seeking legal representation, as this could be seen as accepting liability. For immediate assistance, you can contact your state's bar association for referrals to employment lawyers in your area.
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