Former employee sues Putnam County Bank for wrongful termination

WINFIELD -- A former employee says Putnam County Bank wrongfully terminated his employment after he reported to state and federal banking officials about improper practices occurring at the bank.

Putnam Bancshares, Inc. was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Daniel Mark Roberts was employed by the defendants for approximately 9.5 years, according to a complaint filed Feb. 21 in Putnam Circuit Court.

Roberts claims during May 2010, he spoke to a governmental official to get an opinion about a loan at the bank and afterward was told by John R. Wilson, the CEO of the bank, that if he ever spoke to government officials against about issues at the bank he would be fired.

In October or November 2011, Gary Young, the director of the bank, stated that someone had been talking to government authorities, according to the suit.

Roberts claims in November or December 2011, Bob Duckworth, another director at the bank, harshly criticized him and stated in a bank meeting that the government was getting its information from Roberts about the bank.

Wilson also stated that Roberts was intentionally placing memos in files so that the government regulators would find them, according to the suit.

Roberts claims on Feb. 1, the defendants willfully, maliciously and unlawfully terminated his employment.

The defendants' actions were willful, wanton and/or undertaken with reckless disregard and/or reckless indifference to the rights of Roberts, according to the suit.

Roberts is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. He is being represented by Mark A. Atkinson.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge James Holliday.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 12-C-48