BENTON — A former employee is suing an oilfield services company for allegedly terminating him for seeking workers' compensation benefits.
James Osborn filed a complaint on Feb. 22 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Franklin Well Services Inc., alleging the oil field services company violated the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on May 29, 2015, he was terminated from his employment. He claims his employer argues that his FMLA leave had run up, but he says he was retaliatory discharged for seeking workers' compensation.
As a result, Osborn claims he suffered lost income and benefits, emotional distress and damages to his reputation.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount in excess of $75,000 and for such other relief as may be equitable and just in the circumstances.
He is represented by Daniel C. Jones of Tapella & Eberspacher LLC in Mattoon.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:17-cv-00194