HUNTINGTON — A Cabell County woman says NCG Care Management Company wrongfully terminated her employment.
In January, the defendant hired Sandra Rice as a service worker, where she performed satisfactorily until she was violently assaulted on July 10, by a client and had to call 911 and report the incident to a responding police officer, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Rice claims despite immediately reporting the incident and filing a workers' compensation claim, her supervisor ordered her to work the next day due to staff shortages.
Despite her injuries, Rice followed her supervisor's order for two days and the requested time off, but the defendant, aware of her pending compensation claim, insisted on using paid time off, failing to record it accurately.
Rice claims while she was still injured and remained off work, she attempted to contact the defendant without success.
On Aug. 10, the defendant terminated her employment, falsely claiming unapproved absences. On Aug. 31, the compensation claim for her injuries was approved, uncontested by the defendant, according to the suit.
Temporary total disability benefits were granted from Aug. 7 to Sept. 8, and since her termination, Rice has been unable to secure employment.
Rice claims she was wrongfully terminated from her employment.
Rice is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. She is represented by Hoyt Glazer of Glazer Saad Anderson in Huntington.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number: 3:23-cv-00698