Raleigh Co. man sues Family Options Providers for wrongful termination

CHARLESTON -- A Raleigh County man is suing Family Options Providers and EIN Resources after he claims his employment was wrongfully terminated.

Harold L. Dobbins Jr. was hired by the defendants in September 2005 as a chief executive officer, according to a complaint filed Jan. 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Dobbins claims he was off work due to surgery for bowel resection from June 2009 until September 2009.

In May 2010, Dobbins informed the defendants that he would be off work again for six weeks for hernia surgery most likely in the fall, according to the suit.

On Aug. 30, 2010, Dobbins claims Cathy Walker came into his office and placed an envelope on his desk, "stating that plaintiff was resigning."

On Sept. 8, 2010, Dobbins had a discussion with Walker regarding her request of his to resign, according to the suit, and when he refused to resign, Walker fired him, according to the suit.

The defendants fired Dobbins with no explanation offered, according to the suit.

Dobbins claims when he questioned why he was being fired he was told that the defendant was 'afraid that plaintiff was going to move to be closer to grandchildren and defendant would be left holding the bag." He claims when he pressed further, Walker admitted the fact that she was firing Dobbins "due to his 'advanced age,' and that he was going to be having hernia surgery soon, thus costing the company more money."

The defendants terminated Dobbins employment based on his age, according to the suit.

Dobbins is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Stephen P. New.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-142