The Lyman Firm - For Employee Rights

04/03/2026

Most people are told a Performance Improvement Plan is a chance to fix things and get back on track.

Sometimes that’s true.

But in many cases, it’s the beginning of the end.

By the time a PIP is put in place, the decision may already be heading in one direction — and the process becomes about documenting that outcome.

That doesn’t mean every PIP is improper. But it does mean you should approach it carefully, understand what’s happening, and protect yourself.

If you’ve been placed on one, the details matter more than you think.

03/20/2026

Most people think legal cases are decided simply by applying the law to the facts and reaching an outcome.

In reality, a lot of the result is shaped much earlier, through how the case is framed, how the story is told, and how a series of overlapping negotiations play out between the different players involved.

I wrote this piece a while back breaking down some of those “hidden” dynamics that often end up deciding these cases.

Worth a read if you’re curious how these cases actually play out in practice.

The hidden negotiations that decide your employment case Shaping case outcomes through tactical empathy and strategic framing Dan Lyman 2025 September Litigation doesn’t begin or end in the courtroom. It lives in a network of negotiations most lawyers never see. Too many focus exclusively on their...

03/14/2026

This is one of the biggest myths my clients repeat back to me after they’re fired 👇