CHARLESTON - A case in which a former Coca Cola Bottling Company Consolidated employee filed suit against the company for her alleged illegal termination has been moved to federal court.
Katrina Lynn Caudill claims she worked as a warehouse manager for the company from Oct. 7, 2002, until she was terminated July 18 for allegedly violating a company policy, according to the complaint she filed Sept. 19 in Logan Circuit Court.
Caudill was told she was being fired because a fellow employee, Roy Evans, married her daughter, the suit states.
Company policy prohibits marriage between employees or the hiring of close relatives at the same time by the employer, according to the complaint.
Caudill claims she did not violate the provision.
Because of her termination, Caudill has suffered anguish, embarrassment, grief, humiliation, sorrow, emotional distress, damage to her professional reputation, loss of earnings and loss of retirement income, the suit states.
She is seeking unspecified actual, punitive and compensatory damages, plus prejudgment interest, costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court determines just.
She also is seeking reinstatement to her job.
Coca Cola removed the case to federal court on the grounds that Caudill is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.
Coca Cola is represented by Eric W. Iskra of Spilman, Thomas and Battle in Charleston.
Caudill is represented by Donald C. Wandling of Avis, Witten and Wandling in Logan.
U.S. District Court case number: 2:08-1202
