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AnonymousInactivehttp://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/10/inkstop_employees_are_suing_th.html
INKSTOP EMPLOYEES FILE SUIT FOR UNPAID WAGES !
WARRENSVILLE
HEIGHTS, Ohio — Employees of InkStop Inc., the ink and toner retailer
that on Friday abruptly locked its doors and laid off all 500-some
workers, have filed suit against the company and its owners for unpaid
wages and benefits.”They’re all very, very frustrated and upset about
this,” said attorney Anthony Lazzaro of the Lazzaro Law Firm LLC, which
is representing the group. “There’s a lot of folks who aren’t going to
be able to pay their mortgage, make their rent payments and their car
payments.”About 40 employees have already signed on to
participate in the lawsuit, and hundreds more have called asking how to
join, he said. More than 155 have joined a Facebook group called
“InkStop employees for back wages” to share grievances.”This is an
egregious example of wage theft,” said attorney Jason Bristol of Cohen
Rosenthal & Kramer LLP, which is working with Lazzaro on the
case.”The wages weren’t paid, the health premiums weren’t paid, and we
are continuing to investigate other claims that employees might have.”
InkStop closes all storesInkstop letter to employees (PDF)..email me @ jim@wantedsurplustoner.com & i’ll forward the letter
Phone
calls to the owners, Dirk and Dawn Kettlewell, and to the company’s
Warrensville Heights headquarters went into voicemail. Dirk
Kettlewell’s cell phone is not accepting new messages because his
mailbox is full.InkStop, a Warrensville Heights chain of 162
stores that specialized in ink, toner, consumer electronics and other
office supplies, faxed and e-mailed a letter to workers around 10 p.m.
Thursday telling them the stores were closed and that all workers were
laid off until further notice.The letter from the company’s Board of
Directors said workers would not receive their final paychecks and that
medical coverage and other insurance had been paid only through Aug.
31. It tells workers with funds in the company’s 401(k) plan to call
Noble-Davis Consulting Inc. of Solon.”We are working on a plan to
improve our cash flow situation and reopen under better circumstances,”
the letter said.”Your patience during this difficult time is
appreciated,” it concluded.Labor and employment lawyer Avery Friedman,
who is not connected to the case, said that if InkStop took its
employees’ health care contributions and used them for other purposes,
that could have serious legal implications.Moreover, if InkStop
were planning to reopen, why would it tell its employees to call about
their 401(k) retirement accounts, he asked.”At the very least, they
have a moral obligation” to do the right thing, he said.Bristol said
the fact that the owners were generous to the community, including
contributing to build InkStop Field at Aurora High School last summer,
makes the way they’re treating their employees even more
appalling.”This is an utter disaster for these people,” he said. -
AuthorOctober 6, 2009 at 11:38 AM
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