CHARLESTON – A man is suing Hat World Inc. after he claims he was wrongfully accused of theft and terminated from his employment.
Hat World is doing business as Lids.
Keri Gallups was also named as a defendant in the suit.
On July 28, 2016, Timothy Steele was terminated from his employment at Hat World and was accused of theft, according to a complaint filed July 26 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Steele claims Gallups, in her capacity as the manager of the store, and told the management at the Town Center Mall that he had stolen merchandise in the amount of $5,000 to $6,000.
The defendants’ allegations were false, slanderous and libelous and with the intent to defame Steele, according to the suit.
Steele claims the defendants’ actions caused him to suffer great emotional distress, annoyance, inconvenience, embarrassment, has incurred legal expenses.
Steele is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Michael T. Clifford.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge James Stucky.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 17-C-1051