Former employee says Comfort Inn violated wage act

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing Comfort Inn after she claims it violated the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act.

Hi-Lad, Inc. is doing business as Comfort Inn.

Mary Louise Deemer was employed by Comfort Inn and was compensated on a salary basis, according to a complaint filed Feb. 6 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Deemer claims the defendants required her to be at work during certain time periods and during the hours spent at work she performed duties as assigned or was engaged to wait for work assignments.

The defendant did not settle with Deemer at least once in every two weeks and pay her wages due for her work as required by the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act, according to the suit.

Deemer last worked for the defendant in June 2011 when the defendants terminated her employment and did not pay her all wages due within 72 hours.

The defendant's refusal and/or failure to timely pay Deemer all wages due entitles her to liquidated damages pursuant to the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act, according to the suit.

Deemer is seeking compensatory damages. She is being represented by Lia DiTrapano Fairless.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-229