PINEVILLE – A Williamson man is suing his former employer, a West Virginia ambulance service, over claims of disability discrimination.
Raymond Canterbury filed a lawsuit Dec. 1 in Wyoming Circuit Court against STAT EMS, alleging disability discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination.
According to the complaint, Canterbury began his employment as a driver with STAT EMS in 2003, and he maintained his EMT certification until Dec. 31, 2014.
On Jan. 1, the suit states, Canterbury's EMT certification lapsed, resulting in a pay decrease from $8.50 per hour to $8 per hour.
In August, Canterbury sustained an accident while at work due to unknown complications of a new blood pressure medicine he had begun taking. Canterbury was under care of a physician from Aug. 18 to Aug. 25, when he was restored to his original medication and received a full, unrestricted release to return to work.
Despite this full release to return to work, STAT EMS has yet to place Canterbury back on active duty as a driver, according to the suit.
The defendant stated Canterbury had not been placed on active duty because his EMT certification had lapsed, even though he was previously able to drive for nearly eight months after his EMT certification had lapsed.
The suit claims STAT EMS has hired several new drivers after Canterbury's full release, and at least three of the new drivers are not EMT certified.
Canterbury seeks compensatory and punitive damages, plus interests and attorney fees. He is represented by attorneys Nathan D. Brown and Joshua S. Ferrell of Ferrell & Brown in Williamson. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Warren R. McGraw.
Wyoming Circuit Court Case number 15-C-227
