Man says he was fired because of his age

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man has filed a suit against his former employer, claiming he was fired because of his age.

Joe Dawson filed the suit Jan. 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Jackson Pierce Public Affairs Inc.

According to the suit, Dawson was employed by Jackson Pierce from Oct. 1, 2003 to Jan. 17, 2006, as an admissions counselor for the Department of Labor's Job Corp Program.

Dawson claims he was informed Jan. 17, 2006, that he was terminated, effective immediately.

According to the suit, Dawson, who was older than 40, claims his age was a factor in his termination.

Dawson says in the suit that he believes his firing to be acts of retaliation, that were deliberate and intentional inflictions of emotional distress.

According to the suit, Dawson has suffered humiliation, embarrassment, loss of dignity and extreme emotional distress and trauma.

Therefore, Dawson seeks punitive damages and compensatory damages, for emotional distress and trauma, loss wages and benefits, plus medical expenses and court costs.

Attorney Eunice L. Green is representing Dawson. The case has been assigned to Judge Tod Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-104