Stadtwerke Bietigheim: Court ruling shocks former employees!

Stadtwerke Bietigheim: Court ruling shocks former employees!

A dramatic court dispute has brought Stadtwerke Bietigheim-Bissingen (SWBB) into the headlines. The energy supplier took three former employees to court to hold them responsible for alleged damage of almost 13 million euros. How Stuttgart newspaper reported, however, the lawsuit was dismissed and the employees were acquitted. Despite the clear verdict, the negotiation costs and possible consequences for the employees left a bitter aftertaste.

Background and consequences

The legal dispute that put the municipal utilities in the spotlight was originally triggered by errors in the procurement of gas and electricity. The SWBB tried to shift responsibility for this million-dollar loss onto four employees. The judge was surprised when the prosecution failed to bring about his supposed benefits and ruled in favor of the former employee. Nevertheless, SWBB is now faced with high legal fees - employees have to pay up to 52,000 euros for their own defense, possibly heading towards private-sector insolvency. According to the Stuttgart News One of the defendants even had to expect immediate dismissal before the trial began.

The critical question remains: How could this colossal mistake on the part of SWBB come about? Instead of showing responsibility, the company seems to be stuck in a selfish cycle. But despite the lawsuit being won, the financial worries for the former employees remain and there is no amicable end in sight. This situation could push some employees to the limits of their financial possibilities, a development that both the municipal utility and the affected employees certainly did not want to achieve.