LOGAN – A registered nurse alleges he was wrongfully terminated for taking a medical leave.
Tommy Epperheart filed a complaint on July 15 in the Logan Circuit Court against Trinity Health Care Services of Logan Inc. and Trinity Health Care Services Inc. alleging that they violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that during his employment, he was required to seek medical attention after a motor vehicle accident in January 2014. He alleges he was granted leave for a surgery and to recover through June 2015, but was terminated afterward for missing work.. As a result, he alleges he suffered damages for annoyance, inconvenience, embarrassment, emotional distress and punitive damages.
The plaintiff holds Trinity Health Care Services of Logan Inc. and Trinity Health Care Services Inc. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to accommodate his disability, maliciously terminated his employment, and refused to re-hire him after his release to return to work.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensation for all damages, attorney's fees and expenses, prejudgment interest and such other relief as the court may deem just and equitable. He is represented by Matthew M. Hatfield of Hatfield & Hatfield PLLC in Madison. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Eric H. O'Briant.
Logan Circuit Court Case number 16-C-155