Man sues Smith Company Motor Cars for wrongful termination

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston man is suing Smith Company Motor Cars after he claims his employed was wrongfully terminated.

Wilmer J. Sayre was employed by the defendant from 1998 until August 2010, according to a complaint filed March 3 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Sayre claims he was told his employed was being terminated because he was a liability, which he believes is because he was 82 years old at the time of his discharge.

The defendant requested that Sayre inform individuals who inquired as to why he was no longer working for the company that he had voluntarily retired, as opposed to having been terminated, according to the suit.

Sayre claims he was replaced by someone younger than he was.

Sayre is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Walt Auvil.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-367