CHARLESTON — A Putnam County man is suing an Ohio firm for allegedly firing him after he suffered a workplace injury.
Craig Kitchen filed a lawsuit in Kanawha Circuit Court against AWP Inc., Chuck Adams and James Patton, alleging wrongful termination and retaliatory discharge.
According to the complaint, Kitchen filed a workers' compensation claim after suffering a suspected compression fracture or spinal disc injury on Feb. 3, 2015. About a week later, the suit says Kitchen told Adams, his supervisor, that his doctor had placed him on restricted duty until Feb. 23. Adams then allegedly terminated Kitchen for failing to report the injury within the required time frame. However, the plaintiff says he reported the injury Feb. 4, 2015, the day after it happened.
Kitchen seeks a jury trial, punitive and compensatory damages, plus legal interest and litigation costs. He is represented by attorney J.B. Akers of the Akers Law Offices PLLC in Charleston.
Judge Tod J. Kaufman is assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-117
