Woman says Children's Place fired her for workers' comp claim

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc., after she claims her employment was terminated because she filed a workers' compensation claim.

Wendy Baird-Luther, another employee if The Children's Place, was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Tracey Murphy was employed by the defendants from Aug. 1 until Sept. 10, according to a complaint filed Dec. 13 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Murphy claims prior to Sept. 10, she was injured on the job and filed a workers' compensation claim.

The defendants discharged Murphy on Sept. 10 based on the workers' compensation claim, according to the suit.

Murphy claims the defendants' decision to discriminated against her was in violation of West Virginia Code and that Baird-Luther made the final decision to terminate her employment.

The defendants also violated public policy of West Virginia, according to the suit.

Murphy is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is being represented by J. Michael Ranson, Cynthia M. Ranson, George B. Morrone III.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-2220