Former employee sues IB Services for wrongful termination

MORGANTOWN – A former employee is suing IB Services, Inc., after he claims he was wrongfully terminated for requesting a workers’ compensation claim to be opened.

Robert Farr, a manager at IB Services, was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Blair Meredith was employed by the defendants as a machine operator and on May 9, he was operating a grinder when his hand became caught in the pulleys and his middle left finger was severed, according to a complaint filed in November in Monongalia Circuit Court.

Meredith claims the pulleys were supposed to be shielded by protective covers.

After the incident, Meredith was rushed to the hospital, but his finger could not be saved, according to the suit, and Meredith contacted Farr and requested that a workers’ compensation claim be opened, but Farr resisted the opening of the claim and instead suggested that he allow his medical insurance to cover the injury and treatment.

Meredith claims he insisted that a workers’ compensation claim be opened and Farr became more agitated and confrontational and then fired him from his employment.

The defendants’ refusal to open a workers’ compensation claim, despite repeated requests, violated West Virginia code, according to the suit.

Meredith claims the defendants’ actions caused him to suffer loss of income and benefits; damage to his physical health and well-being; mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety and other adverse mental and emotional effects; loss of standing and reputation in the community; financial and other hardship to his family; and legal fees.

The defendants fired Meredith because he requested a workers’ compensation claim to be opened and not for a separate dischargeable offense, according to the suit.

Meredith is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by David M. Grunau.

Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 12-C-781