WHEELING—An Ohio County man is suing a corporation and its business manager, alleging breach of contract, violation of state code and outrageous conduct in his job termination.
David Raveaux filed a lawsuit July 20 in Ohio Circuit Court against Arrowsmith of West Virginia and Michael J. Siebieda Sr., alleging unlawful employment practices in May.
According to the complaint, Raveaux entered into an employment contract with the defendant effective Jan. 22, 2015, through Jan. 1, 2016 ,for an annual salary of $120,000 with an additional 1 percent commission on jobs he managed successfully, plus the alleged guarantee of health insurance benefits after the first quarter of 2015.
The suit says Raveaux advised Siebieda of the need for union workers as per the firm’s agreement with a local union, but the defendant refused and terminated the plaintiff May 6 after Raveaux was unable to provide union workers for labor on a particular client’s job.
Arrowsmith’s alleged reason for Raveaux’s dismissal was he was being “laid off” because he was “no longer needed due to losing work with a large customer” according to the suit. The complaint states not only was the plaintiff not responsible for the defendant’s losing a client, but also that Arrowsmith acted in retaliation for the plaintiff’s having raised the union labor issue.
The suit states Arrowsmith failed to pay Raveaux his final wages in a timely fashion in breach of West Virginia employment law, neglected to itemize his deductions, and failed to furnish health insurance after May 1.
The plaintiff alleges he is entitled to three times the unpaid amount in liquidated damages as per the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act.
Raveaux seeks compensatory and punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and costs. He is represented by attorney Ronald Kasserman of Kasserman Law Offices in Wheeling. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Martin J. Gaughan.
Ohio Circuit Court case number 15-C-217-MJG.