PITTSBURGH – A Western Pennsylvania man claims that, due to illegal age discrimination, he was fired from his job as a law clerk with the Dugan & Associates law firm.
James Russell McGregor of North Versailles filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on March 20 versus Dugan & Associates of Greentree, Mitchell H. Dugan of Mount Lebanon and Heather Chappel of Oakdale.
“In 2014, plaintiff was hired by the Dugan Law Firm as a part-time law clerk. In 2015, the employment became full time, 40 hours per week, hourly rate adjusted annually, with full benefits and overtime paid as necessary to complete duties,” the suit says.
“The employment contract remained in full force and effect until Feb. 23, 2023 when terminated illegally and otherwise not in accordance with, and in violation of, federal and state law, further causing breaches of the contract by defendants. Said conduct was perpetrated by the Dugan Law Firm, Mitch [Dugan] and Heather [Chappel], individually and in concert.”
The suit adds the defendants allegedly committed common-law breach of contract and violation of employment protection statutes.
“The conduct of defendants has violated the laws of the USA, including the laws which prohibit employment discrimination based on age. Plaintiff, on Feb. 23, 2023 was 62 years old and in a protected class of U.S. citizens. His title was that of law clerk. On Feb. 23, 2023, defendants hired, employed and/or otherwise engaged Alex, age 25, as a law clerk, immediately thereafter making adverse, and unlawful, employment edicts with respect to plaintiff, which resulted in him involuntarily becoming a non-employee of the Dugan Law Firm under duress,” the suit states.
“The conduct of defendants was egregious in the extreme, was possibly a violation of Title 18 and consisted of willful misconduct and/or at a minimum, was grossly negligent, entitling plaintiff to punitive damages, has caused plaintiff actual damages of a compensatory nature, the incurrence of counsel fees, consultant fees, pain and suffering et.al, and the plaintiff is entitled to treble damages plus counsel fees, interest and costs, declaratory relief and equitable relief.”
For counts of breach of contract, violation of employment statutes, employment discrimination, gross negligence and trespass, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, declaratory relief in the form of unemployment benefits and equitable relief.
The plaintiff is representing himself in this matter.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-23-003760
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com