Nine federal Dollar General cases settled

CLARKSBURG – Nine individuals settled claims that Dollar General store owners classified them as managers in order to dodge labor laws.

On Jan. 13, U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey approved settlements for Christine Wiser, James Morgan, Mary Howell, Della Thorne-Judkins, Melva Bosley, Connie Outen, Tawana Proctor, Kimberly Weller and Fabra Stewart.

Bailey had taken wind out of their sails in September by granting summary judgment against a 10th plaintiff, Angela Mayne-Harrison.

He found she was responsible for hiring, scheduling, training and disciplining employees, checking inventory, ordering supplies, handling complaints, counting receipts and making bank deposits at the Kingwood store.

"Further, when Mayne-Harrison was not in the store she still directed the employees and called to make sure that tasks were being performed," he wrote.

He wrote that her salary and bonuses were tied to the store's performance.

He wrote that at the time of her resignation in 2004, she was paid $598 a week.

He wrote that she received bonuses of $13,000 in 2001, $10,000 in 2002 and 2003, and $5,681 in 2004.

Roman Shaul and Lance Gould of Montgomery, Ala., and Michelle Massingale of Charlotte, N.C., represented the plaintiffs.

Larissa Dean, of Spilman Thomas and Battle in Morgantown, represented Dollar General, along with Ronald Manthey and Joel Allen of Dallas.

Claims of Anna Malcomb, Patsy Helmick, Ron Weaver and Tammy Audia remain pending.