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WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Former Toyota parts worker sues over firing

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WINFIELD — A former employee at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia Inc., is suing the company, alleging unlawful termination and unlawful discrimination and practices.

Boyd Daniels filed suit on Jan. 29 in Putnam Circuit Court against the automobile parts manufacturer for discrimination against his age and national origin and a discharge through retaliation.

According to the suit, Daniels started his employment at Toyota on Dec. 15, 1997, and over the next 15 years, he met the performance expectations and was professional in the workplace. On Sept. 20, 2013, Daniels received a text message with a photo of several male human resource employees with T-shirts that read, “I am Eye Candy” and “I am with Eye Candy,” the suit alleges. The text upset Daniels and he reported it to his supervisor, who said it did not violate any policies, according to the claim.

Over the next two years, there were other instances that offended or concerned Daniels, the suit says, alleging that as he submitted complaints about being upset, his performance score dropped with no feedback. He was submitted to a performance improvement program, according to the suit. In August 2015, while on the phone with his wife, Daniels said something along the lines of he wasn’t going to “kill” anyone, the suit alleges. Another employee heard it and Daniels was terminated under a "workplace violence" policy, the suit states.

Daniels is seeking a jury trial and actual damages for lost wages, lost compensation and fringe benefits, and compensatory damages for annoyance, inconvenience, embarrassment, humiliation and distress. Hoyt Glazer of the Law Office of Hoyt Glazer, PLLC in Huntington represents the plaintiff.

Putnam Circuit Court Case number 16-C-26

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