CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County woman is suing her former employer for allegedly failing to honor an employment contract.
Sarah Tanner filed a lawsuit April 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Hard Rock Exploration Inc., Jim Stephens, Monica R. Francisco and John Does 1-5, alleging breach of contract and failure to pay timely wages.
According to the complaint, Tanner signed an employment agreement with Hard Rock on Sept. 2, 2014, stipulating she could be terminated only on the occurrence of specific events. The suit says that although Tanner met none of the conditions required for dismissal, she was nonetheless terminated on Dec. 9, 2015, nearly a year before the contract was set to expire. Although Tanner claims she is legally entitled to the remainder of her salary for the second year of the contract, the complaint states that the defendant has left the amount unpaid.
Tanner seeks a jury trial and enforcement of the contract, as well as statutory damages, litigation costs and interest. She is represented by attorney Rodney A. Smith and Todd S. Bailess of the law firm of Bailess Smith PLLC in Charleston.
Judge Tod J. Kaufman is assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-C-568
