Mark Stewart began his employment with WVUBOG as the Associate Director in the Procurement, Contracting and Payment Services Department at the university, according to a complaint filed March 4 in Monongalia Circuit Court.
Stewart claims upon beginning his employment with WVU, he began observing unlawful and unethical activity within the department and expressed his concerns and disapproval of the unlawful and unethical conduct to his supervisors and senior officials of the department.
However, not only were the concerns and complains disregarded, the activity was supported and affirmed by the same supervisors and senior officials of the department, according to the suit.
Stewart claims he was also ostracized from duties within his employment and was often chastised and ridiculed in response to his reporting and expressing his well-founded objections to WVU.
The plaintiff was also denied promotional opportunities and employment benefits to which he was otherwise entitled and/or those that were received by other employees of the department who did not report waste and wrongdoing, according to the suit.
Stewart claims the discrimination and retaliation he suffered eventually culminated with his termination from employment at WVU, which became effective on April 3, 2015.
The plaintiff was discriminated against, retaliated against and wrongfully discharged from his employment, according to the suit.
Stewart is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Sean W. Cook of Meyer Ford & Glasser.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number: 16-C-132
