Venice man claims city failed to pay him for work as street superintendent

A Venice man who says he was hired as superintendent of streets has filed suit against the city, alleging he was not paid any money for his work.

Kenneth W. Sloan Sr. claims he agreed to temporarily work as superintendent of streets for Venice for $18,000 per year, plus medical benefits.

To accept the position, Sloan resigned as a union laborer out of the Local 42 where he was being paid $28.65 per hour and working more than 40 hours per week, according to the complaint filed Oct. 14 in Madison County Circuit Court.

But from Sept. 8, 2008, through May 11, Sloan was not paid any money for his job performance as superintendent nor was he paid medical benefits, the suit states.

"The reasonable value for the services provided from September 8, 2008 to May 11, 2009 by Plaintiff to Defendants is $12,082.19, excluding medical benefits and costs of collection," the complaint says.

At the very least, Sloan claims he should have made $10,085 for his work, which would have been equal to minimum wage.

Venice's actions have left Sloan without money he would have earned had he not resigned as union laborer, have forced Sloan to incur out-of-pocket expenses to pay for his family's medical costs and have left Sloan suffering with mental anguish, the complaint says.

In addition to the money he says he is owed, Sloan is seeking economic damages of more than $50,000 and a judgment of more than $50,000, plus pre-judgment interest, collection costs, attorneys' fees and court costs. He is also asking the court to force Vencie to pay Sloan his lost wages within 15 days of the court's order.

He will be represented by Todd W. Sivia and Luke A. Behme of Sivia Business and Legal Services in Edwardsville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-1096.