CHARLESTON – A former investigator for the secretary of state alleges his age and political affiliation were factors in his unlawful termination.
Jeffrey Shriner filed a complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against West Virginia Secretary of State alleging that the public entity violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff began working for the defendant in August 2016 and worked as an investigator. He alleges he is a graduate of the police academy and is capable of performing his duties.
The suit states 16 employees were unlawfully terminated in January 2017 and the plaintiff was terminated in April 2017. He alleges he was replaced by a younger woman that is a registered Republican and not a graduate of the police academy. The suit states the plaintiff is a registered Democrat.
The plaintiff holds West Virginia Secretary of State responsible because the defendant allegedly discriminated and retaliated against him because of his political affiliation.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, plus interest, attorney's fees, costs and any further relief as the court may deem just and equitable. He is represented by Ben Salango and Brett J. Preston of Preston & Salango PLLC in Charleston and Mark A. Atkinson and John-Mark Atkinson of Atkinson & Polak PLLC in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 18-C-27