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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Speed Lube CFO sues after losing job

A Madison County woman claims she lost her job as chief financial officer of a company after data revealed more than $300,000 was paid to one of her co-workers without taxes being deducted.

Janet Wilson claims she found $377,000 distributed to defendant Robert Haller. However, no taxes were taken from that amount, according to the complaint filed Feb. 3 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Co-owner of defendant Speed Lube, defendant Steve Dugan, had decided to pay Haller the money without deducting the taxes because of financial strain Haller had undergone during a divorce, the suit states.

"Plaintiff, as part of her normal and customary duties as Chief Financial Officer for Speed Lube, documented a spreadsheet of all monies advanced made to Defendant Robert Haller, as well as Haller's admission that he started taking advances against the bonus to hide income due to his divorce," the complaint says.

Somehow, Haller's wife was able to secure the document, the complaint says. Wilson contends she did not provide the information to Haller's wife.

Following the leak, however, Wilson was fired on Feb. 3, according to the complaint. The owners of Speed Lube reported in Wilson's termination record that she had reported false information, although she says all data contained in the document was true.

"Defendant Speed Lube retaliated against the Plaintiff for properly reporting a true and accurate accounting record and statements made by Defendant Robert Haller," the suit states.

Because of her termination, Wilson claims she suffered great emotional distress and embarrassment and incurred a damaged reputation, the complaint says.

Wilson alleges wrongful termination, defamation, false light against the defendants.

In her five-count complaint, Wilson is seeking a judgment of more than $275,000 and unspecified punitive damages, plus costs.

Robert Bas of Bas Law Office in Edwardsville will be representing her.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-162.

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