WHEELING – A Brooke County man claims that he was fired after K&K Home Builders Inc. created a hostile work environment when he complained of working for wages below the legal rate.
Robert Lanham filed a lawsuit on Nov. 4 in Ohio Circuit Court against K&K Home Builders Inc. and George Schuster claiming wrong termination as well as punitive damages and a violation of the West Virginia Prevailing Wage Act.
Lanham claims that the hostile environment began after he went to the West Virginia Department of Labor on Nov. 6, 2013, alleging he and others were paid the prevailing wage rate for their work, and, at the time of his termination, was owed wages including fringe benefits.
Lanham is a part of a class action lawsuit consisting of skilled laborers, workmen or mechanics who were involved in the construction of a project – and who were fired or discharged in or after 2012. The lawsuit also includes those who quit or resigned in or after 2012, and who did not receive all their wages and benefits in full in a timely manner as mandated by the West Virginia Wage Payment and Collection Act.
Lanham is represented by Theodore L. Tsoras of Tsoras Law Office of Powhatan Point, Ohio. The case has been assigned to Circuit Court Judge James P. Mazzone.
Ohio Circuit Court Case number 15-C-314