I'm not defending ND nor suggesting Heisler was treated fairly. In fact, nobody outside of the ND and Heisler knows what happened. I know you are relying on the only information there but you have to consider the sources of that information when deciding how much fact or fiction is in the story.
I've been on both ends of this stick ( i have both been jettisoned by companies and planned jettisons of people) so call me suspicious of the "facts" that have been presented.