Godfrey rehab facility accused of lying about non-compete agreement

A Godfrey rehab facility is accused of lying to keep an employee from working for a competing company.

Kerri Karlas filed a lawsuit against Halcyon Rehabilitation LLC on Sept. 29 in Madison County Circuit Court.

According to the complaint, Karlas worked for Halcyon as a Senior Director of Rehabilitation and Speech and Language Pathologist at Blue Fountain Manor in Godfrey from July 2007 to March 2014. She says she never signed a non-compete agreement or contract that restricted her employment after leaving Halcyon.

In early 2014, Blue Fountain Manor allegedly terminated its contract with Halcyon and entered into a new contract with TriCare Rehab to provide the same or similar services at the Godfrey facility. "TriCare Rehab indicated an unambiguous and clear desire and intent to hire plantiff to work at the Blue Fountain Manor if there was no Halcyon restrictions on plaintiff's employment or fee owned to Halcyon," the lawsuit reads.

Karlas contends Halcyon president Connie Conroy "falsely represented to TriCare" that the employee was under a non-compete agreement or restrictive covenant that would've required TriCare to pay Halcyon.

Karlas alleges Halcyon knew she intended to work for TriCare and "purposefully interfered" by intentionally making "false representations" about her. As a result, she says she suffered lost compensation, lost benefits and emotional distress.

Karlas ask for more than $50,000 in actual and punitive damages. Attorneys Lee W. Barron and William D. Buchanan represent her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-1331.