February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — An American businessman has become a late entrant to the Esat millionaire stakes after he successfully sued the phone company for unfair dismissal and won a reported £4 million in damages.
Dan Rogers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, claimed that Esat founder and boss Denis O’Brien flew to his home and "love-bombed" him to join the company in 1997.
His counsel claimed he had been offered a 1 percent holding in Esat and a 25 percent share of a new call center subsidiary in addition to a generous salary and perks.
He left his job in the U.S. for a three-year contract in Dublin but the relationship soured within 10 months.
Esat claimed he was fired for "poor performance," while Rogers said he had worked with skill and diligence.
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The phone company denied he was entitled to any equity or damages.
After four days in the High Court, the dispute was settled on "amicable terms" after talks between the lawyers.