Stobbs
Madison County Associate Judge Stephen Stobbs will re-evaluate a case in July after ordering a defendant to pay up and provide financial documents to the plaintiff.
Stobbs ordered Hahne's Towing to pay plaintiff's attorney Lee Barron $1,000 a month from Feb. 1 until July 1.
Hahne's Towing was sued in 2007 by a former tow truck driver who claimed the company failed to pay him minimum wage and failed to pay overtime.
According to an order signed by Stobbs, Hahne agreed to provide Barron with tax returns from the last three years, bank statements, credit applications from the last 12 months, loan documents, showing outstanding debt on vehicles, equipment, homes and businesses and a contract with AAA.
Plaintiff Carnell Williams also sued owners Michael and Katherine Hahne for slander, alleging they gave his potential employers a bad reference.
According to Williams, he worked at the towing company from June 16, 2005, until Feb. 16, 2006, and received an initial salary of $350 per week which was later raised to $400 a week.
"Defendants paid Plaintiff approximately $5.00 per hour," the complaint stated. "Plaintiff worked at least 72 hours per week."
According to Williams, after he was terminated and was seeking employment at other towing companies, the owners told potential employers that he lacked ability to be a tow truck driver by damaging company and customer vehicles.
"Defendants' comments to Williams' potential employers were said with malice toward plaintiff and without justification," the complaint stated.
Williams alleged the untrue statements that were made against him cost him job opportunities and caused him emotional distress.
Madison County case number 07-L-788