Former salesmen say car dealer discriminated against them

CHARLESTON -- A former sales manager and two former sales associates are suing their former employer, alleging they were victims of discrimination.

Imran Afzal, who was a sales manager, as well as Salman Azmat and Hassan Kalwar, who were sales associate, filed their lawsuits April 10 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Gene Neal and Thornhill Automotive Inc., citing hostile work environment and discriminatory discharge.

Afzal's complaint states he was employed as a sales manager at Thornhill Acura in South Charleston. Afzal alleges Neal, the general manager of Thornhill Acura, created a racially and ethically hostile work environment from June 2012 until Dec. 12, 2012. Afzal alleges the defendants terminated him on Dec. 12, 2012.

According to Azmat's complaint, he says he was employed as a sales associate from June 2012 until Dec. 15, 2012. Azmat alleges the defendants terminated him Dec. 15, 2012.

According to Kalwar's complaint, the defendants terminated him in July 2012.

All three claim the defendants applied its policies differently among members of protected and non-protected classes.

All three plaintiffs are seeking back pay, front pay, reinstatement, injunctive relief, general damages, punitive damages, interest, court costs and fees.

The plaintiffs are being represented in their individual cases by Lia DiTrapano Fairless of DiTrapano Law Firm and Tom Price of Tom Price Law PLLC. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-707 (Afzal), 14-C-708 (Azmat) and 14-C-709 (Kalwar)