Earlier in the year, an executive from Zachry Construction Corporation committed suicide after being fired from serving 27 years with this global company. George Dickerson was released from Zachry after sending an angry and racial e-mail to city councilwoman Elana Guajardo. Later in the week, Dickerson was found with a self inflicted bullet shot to the head.

Dickerson sent an e-mail to Councilwoman Guajardo reguarding a local club. He basically expressed his feelings about the type of crowd the club was bringing to his upper-class area. Dickerson also stated that he paid good tax dollars to be safe and free of the lower elements of the city. A second e-mail was sent requesting that the previous e-mail be kept confidential. Days later, the e-mail was leaked to the media where Guajardo stated that the e-mail was racial.

Dickerson was fired for violating the company's computer policy. Shortly after, police found a suicide note, a will, and Dickerson's body.

http://www.vnnforum.com/showthread.php?t=29575

I think that the PR departments from Zachry and Councilwoman Guajardo could have handled the situation much better. I don't understand why Guajardo felt the need to make this e-mail a public issue. I also think that Zachry took extreme measures in firing, what seemed like, a very loyal emplyee. It was poor judgement for both parties involved in this issue. Because of Guajardo's poor choices, Guajardo is now facing city-wide criticism and guilt while Zachry has to do some serious damage control.