MORGANTOWN – A fired Ruby Memorial Hospital registered nurse accuses her former employer of age discrimination and retaliation.
Carol McKinney filed her complaint August 22 in Monongalia Circuit Court against West Virginia University Hospitals Inc. She says she worked at WVU Hospitals’ J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown for nearly 26 years until April 25 when she claims she was wrongfully terminated. She says she was a registered nurse at the hospital for almost 16 years and her pay rate was about $44.15 per hour.
McKinney, who was born in 1954, says the defendants falsely implied she was fired because of gross misconduct. The complaint does not state what the alleged misconduct was.
She says WVU Hospitals subjected her and others to age discrimination and retaliation that interfered with their work performance and created an intimidating, hostile and offensive working environment. She says other younger, less qualified workers committed similar acts she was alleged to have committed, but they were not disciplined or fired.
McKinney also notes that Administrative Law Judge Carl Hostler determined she was entitled to full unemployment benefits because she did not commit any misconduct. She alleges WVU Hospitals did not follow its own personnel and disciplinary policies.
She accuses WV Hospitals of age discrimination, wrongful discharge, unlawful retaliation and violation of substantial public policy. She seeks compensative damages for back pay, front pay, lost benefits, mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, aggravation, inconvenience and damage to her reputation as well as punitive damages, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
McKinney is being represented by attorney John Einreinhofer of Charleston.
Monongalia Circuit Court case number 23-C-235