WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

HUNTINGTON - A former employee is suing Huntington Alloys Inc. for allegedly discriminating against him based on his age.

Keith Dabbs, Huntington Alloys' general manager, was also named as a defendant in the suit.

Keith McLeod was employed by Huntington Alloys from April 4, 2011, until May 6, according to a complaint filed Aug. 26 in Cabell Circuit Court.

McLeod claims he performed his duties in an exemplary manner until Huntington Alloys, through Dabbs, summarily dismissed him without prior notice of performance concerns.

At the time of the dismissal, Dabbs erroneously stated that he did not possess the "skill-set, drive and energy" needed to perform his jobs, according to the suit.

McLeod claims in the period prior to his dismissal, several members of the senior leadership team were dismissed, transferred or pressured to resign and all were replaced with employees substantially younger.

Three days prior to the dismissal meeting, Dabbs publicly humiliated McLeod by loudly demanding that he leave a large leadership meeting, stating wrongly that he was not effectively engaged in topics under review and discussion at the time, according to the suit.

McLeod claims the defendants discriminated against him based on his age.

Dabbs facilitated and directly initiated actions that led to the discriminatory dismissal of McLeod, according to the suit.

McLeod is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by James D. McQueen Jr. and Amanda Davis of McQueen Davis PLLC.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 13-C-625