MOOREFIELD – A West Virginia woman is suing her former employer and supervisor after they fired her twice.
Shannon Whetzel-Feaster filed a lawsuit in Hardy Circuit Court against Renal Ventures Management and April George, alleging a violation of her rights.
Renal Ventures hired Whetzel-Feaster in March 2013 as a hemodialysis technician after completing a training program required by the company. Completing the training and passing an examination would earn her a national certificate to provide hemodialysis services, according to the suit.
Whetzel-Feaster later discovered from the West Virginia Board of Nursing that the training program for Renal Ventures was neither accepted nor recognized by the nursing board, and that Renal Ventures should not have allowed her to provide hemodialysis services to West Virginia residents.
The defendants then terminated Whetzel-Feaster's employment on Oct. 22, 2014, but rehired her on Nov. 19, 2014, with a modified job description, fewer hours, and increased benefit deductions.
The defendants told Whetzel-Feaster she would be re-employed full-time once they obtained state certification, the suit states.
Then, in February, Whetzel-Feaster complained about her working environment and said she may consult an attorney, for which she was disciplined and informed that future conduct like this would result in further discipline, including termination, according to the suit.
Whetzel-Feaster believed the defendants were preparing to fire her, so on Feb. 23, she provided a two-week notice of intent to resign, but on Feb. 27, the defendants terminated her employment.
The suit states the defendants' conduct was deliberate and taken with disregard for the rights and sensibilities of Whetzel-Feaster.
Whetzel-Feaster seeks compensatory, punitive, and emotional damages, plus interest and costs of the suit.
She is represented by attorney Harley O. Staggers of Staggers & Staggers in Keyser. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge H. Charles Carl III.
Hardy Circuit Court Case number 15-C-31