Man says Huntington wrongly passed over him for firefighter job

HUNTINGTON - A Cabell County man who was placed on a hiring list to be a Huntington firefighter but has yet to be chosen has filed a suit against the City of Huntington.

Sam Slusher filed a suit June 19 in Cabell Circuit Court. Slusher claims he has been passed by on the waiting list for probationary firefighters.

According to the suit, Slusher took a psychological exam with Diane Mufson of A.P.T. Inc, and was reported as "Invalid." However, Slusher claims Mufson said it is impossible to form any ideas about his psychological functioning from the test results and that he did not fail his psychological examination.

However, Dec. 9, 2005, six candidates from the hiring list were sent for a physical, but Slusher claims he was not sent and offered no explanation why. According to the suit, at least one candidate behind him on the hiring list was sent for a physical.

Also, the suit claims that during a Firefighter's Civil Service Commission meeting, Slusher's name was discussed in open session and it was stated that his name raised a "red flag."

In January 2006, four probationary firefighters just above Slusher on the list were hired, as was Adam Howard, one spot below Slusher, the suit says.

Slusher claims he has been unlawfully passed over and seeks damages.

According to the suit, filed by attorney Tyler Smith, Slusher seeks to be immediately hired by the City of Huntington, as a probationary firefighter. HE also seeks a hiring freeze until he is hired. Slusher also seeks monetary damages.

The case has been assigned to Judge John L. Cummings.

Cabell Circuit Court case number 07-C-523