In-house Counsel

Charge of attempted strangulation precedes general counsel's ouster

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fired man in suit with boxes

The general counsel of pet medication and wellness company PetIQ has been fired “without cause” after he was charged with trying to strangle his wife. Image from Shutterstock.

The general counsel of pet medication and wellness company PetIQ has been fired “without cause” after he was charged with trying to strangle his wife.

PetIQ noted the Aug. 2 dismissal of general counsel Robert Michael Herrman in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, Law.com reports.

The “without cause” designation means that he will be eligible for about $450,000 in severance.

Herrman was arrested June 25 at his home in Eagle, Idaho, a suburb of Boise, Idaho, according to prior coverage by the Idaho Statesman.

At his arraignment, a legal intern for the Ada County prosecutor’s office said Herrman put his hand around his wife’s throat for about five seconds and pulled an alarm system out of the wall when she tried to use it to get help.

Herrman’s lawyer, John DeFranco, said Herrman was trying to stop his wife from driving after she had been drinking. He said Herrman had no criminal record and was “a high-character guy,” according to the Idaho Statesman.

Herrman is currently represented by Scott McKay of Nevin, Benjamin & McKay, according to an online docket. He did not immediately respond to the ABA Journal’s email and voicemail requests for comment.

PetIQ had announced Herrman’s appointment as general counsel in a February 2019 press release.

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