FAYETTEVILLE – A Boone County man is suing is suing his ex-employer, claiming he was fired for his age and because he raised safety concerns about mine operations.
John E. Eagle Jr. filed a lawsuit March 14 in Fayette Circuit Court against Kingston Mining Inc., alleging violations of the West Virginia Human Rights Act and wrongful discharge.
According to the complaint, Eagle, 60, had been a dispatcher for Kingston at its mine in Fayette County for 10 years. In 2015, Eagle says was assigned additional duties requiring him to be away from the dispatching station while travel was occurring in the mine. When he questioned Kingston’s safety director about this, the suit says he never received an answer, but was terminated on Feb. 1, 2016. However, Eagle says younger, less experienced dispatchers remained employed.
Eagle seeks a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages, plus litigation costs and interest. He is represented by attorney Richard W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer PLLC in Charleston. Judge Paul M. Blake Jr. is assigned to the case.
Fayette Circuit Court Case number 16-C-72