Ex-Wal-Mart ad chief files lawsuit

Thursday, January 25, 2007
Ex-Wal-Mart ad chief files lawsuit
Bloomberg News







DETROIT -- Ex-Wal-Mart Stores Inc. advertising chief Julie Roehm is suing the discount retailer for breach of contract and fraud in federal court in Detroit. She also said Wal-Mart "made false and malicious statements to the media."

Roehm's complaint says Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart told her she was fired last month because she hadn't "been fulfilling the expectations of an officer of the company."

Roehm joined Wal-Mart in January 2006 from DaimlerChrysler AG, where she was director of marketing communications for the Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands. Before joining DaimlerChrysler in 2001, she worked at Ford Motor Co. for six years, leaving there as head of marketing communications for all Ford-branded vehicles.

Roehm filed her lawsuit in state court in Pontiac, and it was transferred to federal court in Detroit on Jan. 10.

Wal-Mart has struggled to boost sales in recent months. The company dropped Interpublic Group of Co.'s DraftFCB, the advertising agency Roehm hired earlier in the year, three days after her Dec. 4 dismissal.

Roehm said Wal-Mart hasn't paid all the money it owes her. Roehm was an "at-will" employee and isn't entitled to any damages, Wal-Mart said in court papers filed Dec. 18.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said the company wouldn't comment beyond what it said in court papers. John Schaefer, Roehm's attorney, didn't immediately return calls for comment. A message left at Roehm's Arkansas home wasn't immediately returned.










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