The Dominion Post
STAR CITY, W.Va. — A former employee of the Star City Volunteer Fire Department filed a lawsuit against it, alleging racial discrimination.
According to the suit, recently filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court, Leonel Caso — who is of Hispanic descent — was employed by the department from October 2012-January 2015, and performed his duties in a satisfactory manner.
During his employment, Caso was called names such as “papi,” “criminal,” “terrorist,” “Mexican” and “Cuban” by his co-workers, according to the suit, and Caso was unable to report this behavior because supervisors and management participated in this conduct.
“[The] Plaintiff also reported other issues, including but not limited to staffing and personnel issues, failure to follow proper policies and/or procedures, and potentially unlawful pay practices,” the suit reads. No further details were provided regarding the potentially illegal practices.
In January last year, Caso was given the option to resign or be terminated. He chose termination a few days later.
The lawsuit alleges Caso’s termination was motivated by racial discrimination and retaliation for reporting staffing issues. It also alleges a hostile work environment and that his termination violated the West Virginia Human Rights Act.
Caso, demanding a trial by jury, also seeks attorney fees and punitive damages “in an amount that will punish and deter [the] defendant from committing this type of conduct in the State of West Virginia in the future, and by setting an example, deter others from committing this type of conduct.”
William Garvin, who sits on the Star City VFD’s board of trustees, said Friday that he hadn’t seen the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on the matter. Efforts to reach Erika Klie Kolenich, the lawyer representing Caso, were not successful in time for this report.
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