CHARLESTON — A man says Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Inc. for wrongfully terminating his employment.
Jeremy Young, Aaron Caldwell and Timothy Stover, both individually and in their official capacities with Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Inc., were also named as defendants in the suit.
James J. Karnas was employed by the defendant until his employment was terminated on Nov. 4, 2021, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Karnas claims he was hired as a commercial technician and was under the direct supervision of Young, Stover and Caldwell. He claims during his employment he was subjected to a hostile work environment and harassed by Caldwell, who would ask him for naked photos of his spouse.
"During the course of his employment, Plaintiff and others were subjected to hostile racial harassment from supervisor Jeremy Young," the complaint states.
Karnas claims the defendants harassed people who were delivery drivers to the point that they quit their jobs and Karnas was forced to perform two jobs for the company.
On Nov. 4, 2021, the plaintiff presented to work at 7:30 a.m. and informed Young that he had to pick up his grandchildren and could not work overtime that day, according to the suit.
Karnas claims when he returned from making deliveries at 4 p.m. to clock out, he was told to make another delivery and he reminded Young of the conversation that morning about picking up his grandchildren and Young fired him, cursed at him and told him never to return.
The plaintiff was discriminated against, retaliated against and terminated from his employment, according to the suit.
Karnas is seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. Karnas is represented by Travis A. Griffith of Griffith Law Center in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 22-C-5