MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Five men claim their former employer failed to pay them for tasks they performed or to compensate them for equipment borrowed.

Josh Arthur, Ken Schaedler, Gary McClellan, Bruce Brown and Anthony McCrary filed a lawsuit June 3 in Madison County Circuit Court against Craig Richardson and Craidons Transportation.

Each of the plaintiffs claim they worked for either Craig Richardson or Craidons Transportation and each say the defendants owe them wages, expense reimbursements and pay arising from their employment. In addition, the defendants used some of the plaintiffs' equipment without reimbursement for it, according to the complaint.

The defendants owe Arthur $5,000; Schaedler $15,121.40; McClellan $28,035; Brown $4,912.92; and McCrary $5,000, the suit states.

Even though each of the plaintiffs say they have demanded payment, the defendants refuse to reimburse them, the complaint says.

"The defendants, and particularly Craig Richardson, have demonstrated a clear pattern of misrepresenting, abusing, cheating, failing to pay and otherwise violating the rights of employees of companies owned and operated by Craig Richardson including, but not limited to, Craidons and Highway 30 Stars," the suit states.

Schaedler faced a fine of $473 in Oregon when the defendants failed to pay for necessary permits, he claims. In addition, the defendants used McClellan's equipment without his permission, according to the complaint. Arthur had to surrender his tractor and/or trailer because of fines and breaches by the defendants, the complaint says.

In addition to the money they say the defendants owe them, the plaintiffs seek more than $50,000 in compensatory damages and more than $50,000 in punitive damages, plus other relief the court deems just.

Brian M. Wendler of Wendler Law in Edwardsville will be representing them.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-583.