A former Securitas employee has filed suit against the company and one of its managers, alleging he was fired after reporting a co-worker's attack against him.
William Hill claims he was working on June 28, 2008, when his co-worker, Don Barnett, physically attacked him.
Before the attack, Barnett had been threatening Hill with verbal, physical and violent threats, which Hill reported to a manager, Tanisha Grant, according to the complaint filed July 10 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Despite Hill's complaints, Securitas did nothing to stop Barnett's behavior before the June 28 incident, the suit states.
After he was attacked, Hill reported the incident and his injuries to Securitas, the complaint says.
Still, Securitas did nothing to help Hill. In fact, the company terminated Hill from his employment on June 30, 2008, for his request of worker's compensation benefits, which were denied, and for his report of Securitas's illegal activity of its approval of Barnett's abuse, Hill claims.
"Securitas knew or should have known that Barnett was unfit for his position so as to create a danger of harm to third persons, including Hill," the suit states. "Barnett's unfitness for his position, including his violent propensities, proximately caused Hill's injuries."
Grant, who is named as a co-defendant, was the one who fired Hill, according to the complaint.
"Grant acted with personal animosity against Hill and Grant acted for her own personal interest contrary to those of the corporation when she terminated Hill," the complaint says.
Hill claims he should be awarded past lost wages, future loss of earnings and loss of past and future fringe benefits.
In the four-count suit, he is seeking a judgment of more than $250,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.
Michael J. Brunton and Mary M. Stewart of Brunton Law Offices in Collinsville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-717.
Worker claims he was fired after reporting co-worker's attack on him
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