PITTSBURGH — A former employee is suing a Pittsburgh company, alleging it refused to pay him severance after eliminating his position.
Phillip G. Elliot of Houston filed a lawsuit Feb. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against EQT Corporation of Pittsburgh, alleging violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).
According to the complaint, Elliot was employed by EQT in various positions, starting March 3, 1997, until he was constructively discharged April 2, 2015. The suit says in October 2013, Elliot had been promoted to "SVP, strategic planning, land and commercial analysis,” and was told he was on track to becoming chief financial officer
Beginning in July 2014, the lawsuit states, the plaintiff was informed he would no longer be permitted to do analysis with one of the companies subsidiaries and was soon informed he would not become CFO and that his position would soon be eliminated.
Elliot began to seek and find new employment, and resigned April 2, 2015. The plaintiff alleges he was and is covered by the defendant’s severance plan but he received a final denial of benefits Dec. 10, 2015, which he alleges violates the ERISA.
Elliot seeks all due benefits, lost relief, and a trial by jury. He is represented by attorneys John W. Murtagh Jr. and Adam K. Hobaugh of Murtagh, Hobaugh & Cech, in Wexford.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00145-MRH