David L. Jobe, Sr. filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against his former employer, Steel Panel Distributors of Sauget, claiming he was fired in retaliation for filing a worker's compensation claim,
Represented by Robert W. Wilson of the Wilson Law Offices in Granite City, Jobe is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages plus costs of the suit. He claims he has suffered mental anguish, the loss of gainful employment and has sustained great loss to his reputation and ability to obtain future employment.
According to the suit filed June 8 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Jobe was hurt while working as a forklift operator on Feb. 3.
After the injury he made a claim for worker's compensation beneifts.
Jobe claims the company president told him that because of his injury claim he would be required to lift at least 50 pounds before returning to work.
Jobe's physician allowed him to return to work under the conditions set forth on May 10,
"That thereafter, on May 16, 2006, in spite of the medical release in question, plaintiff was wrongfully terminated from his employment in retaliation for his asserting his lawful rights under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Statutes," the complaint states.