Man sues City of Huntington for wrongful termination

HUNTINGTON -- A man is suing the City of Huntington for wrongful termination from his employment.

Francis Allen Jackson entered into an employment contract with the City of Huntington in April 2008. As a condition of his employment, he was required to obtain a Class I Wastewater Operator license after one year of experience as a Wastewater Treatment Works Operator in Training, according to a complaint filed Feb. 4 in Cabell Circuit Court.

On Jan. 7, 2009, Jackson was certified as a Wastewater Treatment Works Operator in Training, according to the suit.

Jackson claims he was terminated from his employment on July 7, 2009, for failure to obtain his Class I Wastewater Operator license.

Jackson claims he was required to obtain this certification by Jan. 7, 2010, and because the City of Huntington terminated his employment before this date, it breached its employment contract with him.

Jackson is seeking to be reinstated to his former employment position, general damages with pre- and post-judgment interest and punitive damages. He is being represented by Paul E. Biser of Fredeking & Fredeking Law Offices.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 10-C-104