WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON - Charleston attorney Mark Atkinson recently filed two workers' compensation cases in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Atkinson filed two cases April 5 on behalf of Lonnie Bellew and Gregory James, both residents of Kanawha County.

Lonnie Bellew filed a suit against Bannum Place of Charleston. Bellew claims Bannum employed him for approximately eight years.

On March 29, 2007, Bellew was fired. Bellew claims he was fired because he was trying to receive workers' compensation benefits. He claims his termination was a violation of West Virginia Code. He also claims his termination may have been due to his age, which is a violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act.

Bellew seeks damages including lost wages and benefits, back pay, front pay, damages for indignity, embarrassment, humiliation and emotional distress as well as punitive damages.

Bellew's case has been assigned to Judge Charles King.

Gregory James filed a suit against Superior Windows Inc., a Kanawha County business.

James, a 15-year employee of Superior, claims he was fired after he was injured at work and after he filed for workers' compensation.

James was injured in 2006 and was off work for a surgery related to his injury, the suit says. According to the suit, when he was released to return to work, the defendant failed to reinstate him and willfully, maliciously and unlawfully terminated his employment.

James claims the firing was a violation of West Virginia Code.

James seeks damages including lost wages and benefits, back pay, front pay, damages for indignity, embarrassment, annoyance, inconvenience, humiliation and emotional distress, and punitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury.

James' case has been assigned to Judge Louis Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers 07-C-656 and 07-C-668