CHARLESTON — A West Virginia government agency is suing employers, alleging violation of state laws.
The state of West Virginia, ex rel. the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner filed a complaint Dec. 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court against J P Rice Inc. and Jonathan P. Rice, alleging failure to maintain its own workers' compensation insurance coverage.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff suffered irreparable injury as well as to other employers and claimants served by plaintiff and to other West Virginia taxpayers because the defendants failed to obtain and maintain its own workers' compensation insurance coverage.
The state of West Virginia seeks trial by jury, a maximum fine of $10,000, an order enjoining the defendants from doing business in West Virginia until all fines and penalties are satisfied and the defendants to obtain workers' compensation coverage for themselves, litigation costs and expenses. It is represented by attorney David Ansell of West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner's Legal Service Division in Charleston.
Kanawha Circuit Court Case number 16-c-1864