Former employee sues Reeds Jewelers for wage payment violations

CHARLESTON - A former employee is suing Reeds Jewelers for allegedly violating the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act and causing him damages.

Nicholas Hamrick was employed by Reeds Jewelers at its Charleston Town Center Mall location and throughout his employment, he was permitted to purchase jewelry from Reeds at a discount price, according to a complaint filed Aug. 6 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Hamrick claims to purchase a piece of jewelry, he would request a price quote from the corporate office and pay the amount set by the corporate office.

Throughout his employment, Hamrick purchased multiple pieces of jewelry and on occasion, the price quote would be delayed by the corporate office and Hamrick was permitted by the store manager to take possession of the jewelry while he waited for a price quote to be received, according to the suit.

Hamrick claims in February he was advised by his district manager that he needed to bring all jewelry he had purchased while employed by Reeds back to the store for investigation and was also required to return one piece of jewelry he possessed for which he had recently requested a price quote on, but had not purchased yet.

On Feb. 5, Hamrick employment was terminated and the defendant confiscated all the jewelry, including that which he had previously purchased, according to the suit.

Hamrick claims Reeds also failed to pay all wages due and owing to him within 72 hours of terminating his employment.

The defendant violated the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act and negligently and intentionally inflected emotional distress upon Hamrick, according to the suit.

Hamrick is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre-judgment interest. He is being represented by Richard W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod J. Kaufman.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-1487