Former employees sue Merck for not paying employment wages

HUNTINGTON –Three former employees are suing Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. after they claim it failed to pay employment wages.

Dave W. Morris, Teresa Ansell and Tracy Blower were employed by the defendant, according to a complaint filed July 29 in Cabell Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim the defendant, a subsidiary of Merck, was obligated to pay employees pursuant to the requirements of the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act, but failed to do so.

The defendant only paid the plaintiffs one time per month during the course of their employment instead of every two weeks, according to the suits.

The plaintiffs claim the defendant also failed to pay them within 72 hours of discharge.

The defendant violated the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act and caused the plaintiffs damages, according to the suits.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Todd S. Bailess, Joy B. Mega, Ricklin Brown, Rodney A. Smith and Jonathan R. Marshall.

The cases have been assigned to Circuit Judge F. Jane Hustead.

Cabell Circuit Court case numbers: 11-C-536, 11-C-537, 11-C-538