CHARLESTON – A Kanawha County man says he was wrongfully fired after he was injured.
Mark Mullins filed his complaint September 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court against Beni Kedem Shriners doing business as Beni Kedem Shrine Center and Jimmy M. Lee Jr.
According to the complaint, Mullins was a maintenance worker for the defendant for several years until he says he was wrongfully terminated on December 13, 2021.
Mullins says he was injured in a non-work accident on September 25, 2021. His injuries included a left humerus fracture, and he says the injury prevented him from completing “major life activities” such as working. He also says the injury resulted in a disability that prevented him from working.
He says he was moved from salary to hourly status, meaning a reduction in pay and benefits. He also says he hours were cut from full time to 20 hours per week.
Mullins says he routinely complained to the defendants about what he felt was disability discrimination.
He accuses the defendants of disability discrimination, reprisal, retaliation, failure to accommodate disability, violation of substantial public policy and civil conspiracy. He seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, lost benefits and medical bills as well as damages for mental and emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. He also seeks punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees and other relief.
Mullins is being represented by D. Adrian Hoosier II of the Hoosier Law Firm in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 23-C-802