HUNTINGTON – A retired lieutenant of the Huntington Police Department alleges he suffered monetary damages in salary and his retirement amount because of a layoff.
Charles Kingery filed a complaint Nov. 13 in Cabell Circuit Court against the City of Huntington alleging wrongful discharge and negligence within scope of employment.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was a lieutenant in the defendant's police department and in September 2016, was advised of the military replacement option. The suit states the military replacement agreement was that the plaintiff would retire and then be immediately rehired to fill the role of an officer on military leave. The suit states the plaintiff retired on Sept. 30, 2016, and began his new employment Oct. 3, 2016.
The suit states he was laid off Jan. 26, 2017, and that the defendant breached its duty to inform the plaintiff that problems with finances and layoffs were being considered prior to his retirement.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages, plus interest, attorney's fees, costs and any further relief that the court may deem proper. He is represented by D. Scott Bellomy of Bellomy, Turner & Bartram LC in Huntington. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Christopher D. Chiles.
Cabell Circuit Court case number 17-C-633