MORGANTOWN — A Bridgeport couple is suing a West Virginia University board, alleging age discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation and constructive eviction.
Steven D. Rinehart and Tonya R. Rinehart filed a complaint in Monongalia Circuit Court against the West Virginia University Board of Governors, Gypsy M. Denzine and Dale S. Niederhauser, alleging they violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
According to the complaint, Steven Rinehart was a former professor at West Virginia University in literacy studies and a program coordinator of the masters degree program in reading. As a result of the defendants' outrageous conduct in terminating Rinehart's employment, the suit says, the Rhineharts suffered lost wages and benefits, extreme emotional distress, anxiety, fear and embarrassment.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants subjected Steven Rinehart to adverse employment actions and retaliated against him and terminated his employment for his engaging in protected activity.
The Rineharts seek trial by jury, judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, in an amount to adequately compensate them for their damages, plus punitive damages, attorney fees, costs and all other just and proper relief. They are represented by attorney Erika Klie Kolenich of Klie Law Offices PLLC in Buckhannon.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 18-C-264