Attorney says former AG's office didn't pay her final wages on time

CHARLESTON – A former employee of Attorney General Darrell McGraw’s office has filed a lawsuit alleging she wasn’t paid her final wages in a timely manner.

Christen M. Justice filed a lawsuit June 24 in Kanawha County Circuit Court against new Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and his office. She says it was a week after her last day at work before she was paid her final wages.

Justice was an attorney practicing in the consumer division under McGraw, who was defeated in November’s general election and was replaced in office by Morrisey in January.

“As a direct and proximate result of the defendants’ illegal conduct, plaintiff has incurred lost income and as such is entitled, ‘in addition to the amount which was unpaid when due… three times that unpaid amount as liquidated damages’ as set forth in West Virginia Code...” the complaint says.

Justice is represented by Charleston attorney Kathy A. Brown.

The complaint alleges Justice was given her termination notice on Nov. 7, the day after McGraw lost to Morrisey in the election.

Justice says her last day on the job was Nov. 23, but she wasn’t paid her final wages until Nov. 30.

The complaint says she was owed her final wages within 72 hours of discharge under the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act.

Justice says she has made numerous efforts to collect liquidated damages but has not been successful.

Justice’s LinkedIn profile says she is now a staff attorney at Medley Hartley Advocacy Program, a job she has held since December. It also says she worked at the AG’s office for two years, four months.

From the West Virginia Record: Reach John O’Brien at jobrienwv@gmail.com.