Woman sues Capitol Resource Agency for wrongful termination

CHARLESTON -- A former employee is suing Capitol Resource Agency, Inc., for wrongful termination of employment.

Danny Scalise was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Ramona Dickson claims she was employed by the defendants from Aug. 9, 2010, until Oct. 6, 2011, according to a complaint filed Oct. 25 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Dickson claims during her employment, she consistently performed all her duties in a satisfactory manner and met the reasonable expectations of Capitol.

From the time of its formation, several grants have been received, but during Dickson’s employment, the only grant obtained was the Community Services Block Grant from the West Virginia Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity disbursing funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and disbursing funds from the Community Service Block Grant, according to the suit.

Dickson claims during her employment, she discovered funds from the Community Services Block Grant and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were being inappropriately used by the defendant.

After bringing the violations to the attention of Scalise, the executive director, Dickson’s employment was unlawfully terminated in retaliation to her repeated complaints of inappropriate business practices, misuse of federal grant funds and obstruction of company by-laws, according to the suit.

Dickson claims the defendants’ actions caused her to suffer lost wages and benefits and indignity, embarrassment and humiliation.

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

Dickson claims the defendants unlawfully terminated her employment in retaliation for her repeated complaints of inappropriate business practices, misuse of federal grant funds and obstruction of company by-laws.

Dickson is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. She is being represented by Michael A. Olivio and Travis A. Griffith.

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

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-2153