A Johnson County resident filed a complaint against his former employer alleging retaliatory discharge after he decided to file a workers' compensation claim.
Don Cook of Grantsburg filed a lawsuit on June 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Stock Transport, Inc. of Ill., doing business in St. Clair County.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff was hired by Stock Transport in September 2014. Cook claims he was injured in the scope of his employment on March 24 while he was working at a loading dock at the worksite of NuCor Steel in Decatur, Ala.
Court documents indicate that Cook was also terminated on March 24. Cook filed a workers’ compensation claim with the Illinois Worker’s Compensation Commission on April 6, naming Stock Transport as the respondent.
The plaintiff alleged that Stock Transport’s decision to terminate him was made with actual malice directed toward him for his decision to file the workers’ compensation claim.
Cook seeks judgment in his favor for damages in excess of $50,000 along with punitive damages to be determined by the court, plus attorneys’ fees and costs.
He is represented by Darrell Dunham of Carbondale.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-331