Former Maaco manager claims he was slandered

A man claims his employer slandered him when it accused him of stealing.

Ramey E. Baker filed a lawsuit Aug. 4 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Engeman Franchising doing business as Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting of Swansea.

In his complaint, Baker alleges he worked as an acting manager for Maaco until manager Peter McKinney accused him of stealing in June and fired him.

"The statements made by Peter McKinney, while acting in the scope of his employment with Defendant Engeman Franchising doing business as Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting of Swansea, were untrue and constitute slander under Illinois law," the suit states.

Because of the incident, Baker suffered damage to his reputation and experienced emotional pain and suffering, the complaint says.

In his complaint, Baker seeks a judgment of more than $50,000, plus punitive damages and costs.

John H. Leskera of Leskera Law Firm in Collinsville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-439.