WAYNE – A man is using Tri-State Airport Authority for discriminating against him based on his age.
Jerry Brienza, the director of the airport, was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Robert Maynard began working at Huntington Tri-State Airport in December 1973 as a fueling technician in the General Aviation Department, according to a complaint filed in Wayne Circuit Court
Maynard claims in 1975, he was named as the maintenance superintendent for the next 15 years and was responsible for the upkeep of all aspects of the airport.
In the early 1990s, he was named as the airport's director of operations and served in that capacity for several years and in the mid-1990s, Greg Frazier, the acting maintenance superintendent, had a disagreement with management and subsequently fired all 11 maintenance employees and then quit his job at the airport, according to the suit.
Maynard claims he was reassigned as the director of maintenance after this occurred and served in this capacity until his termination in 2014.
In 2008, the airport hired Brienza as the new airport director and he became Maynard's immediate supervisor, according to the suit.
Maynard claims in 2010, he was called into Brienza's office and was requested to fix his air conditioning unit and, upon inspection, he realized the unit was operable, but was not turned on and when he advised Brienza of this, Brienza became hostile toward him.
Maynard reported the incident to James Booten, who was serving as the president of the airport, and, after Booten had a meeting with Brienza about the hostility, Brienza systematically targeted Maynard and began creating a hostile work environment, according to the suit.
Maynard claims Brienza terminated his employment on Aug. 5, 2014, however, the harassment did not stop after his termination.
When Maynard filed for unemployment benefits, the benefits were initially granted and then were appealed, according to the suit.
Maynard claims the defendant discriminated against him because of his age.
Maynard is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by David M. Adkins of the Adkins Law Firm PLLC.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Darrell Pratt.
Wayne Circuit Court case number: 15-C-144