CHARLESTON — A man is suing Horizon Youth Services for wrongfully terminating his employment and discriminating against him.
Matthew Green was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Mark Peterson was employed at Horizons when he suffered a work injury that required him to be transported to the hospital, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Peterson claims Horizons knew that he had suffered an injury while on the job, but failed to provide him with the ability to file a workers' compensation injury claim and told him that he could not file the claim.
"Plaintiff was making efforts to address his medical condition/disability when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his treatment which he communicated to Horizons," the complaint states. "While treating his medical condition/disability, and during the timeframe in which he could have/should have received Workman's Compensation Benefits, he was wrongfully terminated. Plaintiff was told that he quit his job which is completely untrue."
Peterson claims he had good benefits with Horizons and made $15 per hour. He claims when he was terminated, Horizons also took away his ability to receive unemployment benefits and refused to permit him to return to work after his injury and medical leave.
Peterson, who is black and has a disability/medical condition, was told he could not file a claim for workers' compensation benefits when he was injured at work, according to the suit.
The plaintiff claims the defendants violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act and retaliated against him and discriminated against him.
The defendants were negligent and violated safety rules and regulations, which resulted in his workplace injury.
Peterson is seeking compensatory damages. He is represented by D. Adrian Hoosier II of Hoosier Law Firm in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 21-C-991