Fired woman claims she was conspired against

MOUNDSVILLE - A Marshall County woman is suing the Marshall County Public Service District No. 4 over her firing.

Penny L. Rouse filed the lawsuit May 5 in Marshall Circuit Court, also listing George Lagos and David Glover as defendants.

Wheeling attorney Paul Harris is representing Rouse.

Rouse says she was an employee of the PSD, which provides sewer service, for nearly 16 years until she was fired May 2.

"On Aug. 12, 2005, Plaintiff met with agents of Defendants pSD for the purpose of making a good faith report of instances of wrongdoing or waste," the complaint says. "Such agents then notified board members of Defendant PSD, as well as Defendant Lagos and Defendant Glover. Thereafter, Defendants individually and/or collectively conspired to fire Plaintiff from her employment."

She added that Lagos and Glover engaged in vulgar and demeaning conversations about her, and that she feels her report on wrongdoing is the reason she was fired.

"Defendants' conduct… constitutes a civil conspiracy in bringing about the wrongful termination of Plaintiff in violation of the public policy of West Virginia," the complaint says.

Rouse seeks injunctive relief returning her to her former position, lost wages, damages for humiliation and court costs.

Judge John Madden has been assigned the case.

Marshall Circuit Court case number 06-C-114M