CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A former bookkeeper of a Poca truck repair business has sued the owner of the company, claiming fraud and slander.

Tammy Jordan filed the complaint in Putnam County Circuit Court on Oct. 30.

The suit alleges Frank Boggess, chief executive of Trailer Specialist LLC, wrongfully terminated Jordan after she approached Boggess with concerns about his use of the company's funds for personal expenditures and for fraudulent billing practices. 

After Jordan approached Boggess about her concerns, he told Jordan her job had been eliminated, the suit states.

Boggess did not eliminate the position, and hired a replacement for Jordan, the suit states.

According to the complaint, Boggess falsely told costumers and other potential employers, Jordan had embezzled tens of thousands of dollars while employed as his bookkeeper.

Because of Boggess' statements, Jordan was unable to get a job with similar companies despite her experience, the suit states.

Jordan had worked at Trailer Specialist since January 2004.

Jordan alleges Boggess terminated her "in order to set up a patsy on which to blame his embezzlement of tens of thousands of dollars of corporate funds" for the construction of his personal residence, and to prevent Jordan "access to documentation" to support her claim that Boggess fraudulently billed her auto insurance company for a new hood for her car that he never purchased.

Jordan also alleges Boggess put his wife, who did no work for the business, on the company's payroll to avoid losing money from Social Security.

In all, Jordan is suing Boggess over claims of slander, fraud, wrongful discharge, tortuous interference, violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, intentional infliction of emotional distress and outrage.

Jordan asks for compensatory and punitive damages, according to the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Court Judge O.C. Spaulding.

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 348-5113.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A former bookkeeper of a Poca truck repair business has sued the owner of the company, claiming fraud and slander.

Tammy Jordan filed the complaint in Putnam County Circuit Court on Oct. 30.

The suit alleges Frank Boggess, chief executive of Trailer Specialist LLC, wrongfully terminated Jordan after she approached Boggess with concerns about his use of the company's funds for personal expenditures and for fraudulent billing practices. 

After Jordan approached Boggess about her concerns, he told Jordan her job had been eliminated, the suit states.

Boggess did not eliminate the position, and hired a replacement for Jordan, the suit states.

According to the complaint, Boggess falsely told costumers and other potential employers, Jordan had embezzled tens of thousands of dollars while employed as his bookkeeper.

Because of Boggess' statements, Jordan was unable to get a job with similar companies despite her experience, the suit states.

Jordan had worked at Trailer Specialist since January 2004.

Jordan alleges Boggess terminated her "in order to set up a patsy on which to blame his embezzlement of tens of thousands of dollars of corporate funds" for the construction of his personal residence, and to prevent Jordan "access to documentation" to support her claim that Boggess fraudulently billed her auto insurance company for a new hood for her car that he never purchased.

Jordan also alleges Boggess put his wife, who did no work for the business, on the company's payroll to avoid losing money from Social Security.

In all, Jordan is suing Boggess over claims of slander, fraud, wrongful discharge, tortuous interference, violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, intentional infliction of emotional distress and outrage.

Jordan asks for compensatory and punitive damages, according to the suit.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Court Judge O.C. Spaulding.

Reach Veronica Nett at veroni...@wvgazette.com or 348-5113.