CHARLESTON — A former employee is suing Precision Pipeline for age discrimination and wrongful termination.
Brad Moser was also named as a defendant in the suit.
Jimmy Lorne George was employed by Precision until he was wrongfully terminated on May 15, 2020, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
George claims the defendant violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act by discriminating against him based on his age.
The plaintiff worked as an operations engineer for Precision and earned $40 per hour, according to the suit.
George claims he was forced to construct an access road outside legal boundaries and he complained to Steve McDiffit that his instructions were in violation of the law. When he did so, derogatory remarks were made about his age to himself and others.
The defendant then told George that he was laid off, however, he was immediately replaced by a younger worker who was a personal friend or relative of McDiffit, according to the suit.
George claims he was the only employee who was "laid off."
The plaintiff's age was a substantial factor in him being a victim of discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation as the defendant had made the decision to replace him with a substantially younger employee and if it wasn't for his age, he would not have been terminated, discriminated against or retaliated against, according to the suit.
George claims he suffered and will continue to suffer damages including lost wages, emotional pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, indignity, embarrassment and humiliation.
George is seeking compensatory and punitive 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: 22-C-386