WINFIELD – A Kanawha County man is suing Carrier Enterprise after he claims his employment was wrongfully terminated.
Clinton J. Reed was employed by Carrier from June 5, 2012, until Sept. 6, 2013, according to a complaint filed in Putnam Circuit Court.
Reed claims on July 11, 2013, he entered the U.S. Army National Guard and informed his supervisor on Aug. 1, 2013, that he would begin basic training Nov. 20, 2013.
Beginning in January or February 2013, Reed informed his immediate supervisor and other employees of illegal and/or fraudulent billing practices being authorized by Russ Murray concerning customer charge accounts, according to the suit.
Reed claims in either April or May 2013, he was instructed by Murray to help a customer located in Ohio to avoid taxes in West Virginia by manipulating the shipping and billing of the defendant's merchandise and he objected to the instruction and refused to do so.
In retaliation for advising Murray that he was going to inform Carrier of the illegal/fraudulent billing practices and of his entry into the U.S. Army Reserves, his employment was willfully, maliciously and unlawfully terminated, according to the suit.
Reed claims the wrongful termination violated West Virginia public policy.
The defendant also breached its contract with Reed, according to the suit.
Reed is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Jon D. Hoover of Hoover Andrews.
Putnam Circuit Court case number: 15-C-175