CHARLESTON – A former employee is suing the West Virginia Public Defender Services and the West Virginia Department of Administration after he claims his employment was wrongfully terminated.
Dana Eddy, the executive director of the West Virginia Public Defender Services; and Ross Taylor, the cabinet secretary for the West Virginia Department of Administration were also named as defendants in the suit.
On July 22, Duane C. Rosenlieb Jr. wrote a detailed memorandum to Taylor alleging Eddy had created a hostile work environment and inappropriately engaged in the private practice law. The following week Eddy issued Rosenlieb a demotion letter, according to a complaint filed Jan. 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Rosenlieb claims Eddy improperly demoted him following his protected "whistle blowing" report.
At Rosenlieb's scheduled Level 1 grievance hearing, Eddy fired him and failed to provide him with a hearing on his grievance as due process requires, according to the suit.
Rosenlieb claims the defendants firing him reflects a brazen and calculated disregard for his civil rights and law.
The defendants' anticipated defense that Rosenlieb remained an "at will" employee lacks merit because it disregards the legal protections all our citizens receive under the West Virginia Human Rights Act and West Virginia law, according to the suit.
Rosenlieb claims as a result of Eddy's illegal, outrageous and unconstitutional conduct, he has suffered substantial damages including loss of wages and emotional harm.
The defendants discriminated against Rosenlieb based on his gender and retaliated against him when he complained about the hostile work environment.
Rosenlieb is seeking damages. He is being represented by Hoyt Eric Glazer.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Louis Bloom.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 15-C-142