Former Carl Edwards car chief files wrongful firing suit against Roush Fenway
Jason Myers, a former car chief and tire changer for Carl Edwards at Roush Fenway Racing, has sued his former team, alleging that he was wrongfully fired.
In a lawsuit filed last week in North Carolina Superior Court in Concord, N.C., Myers claims that he was fired for missing work following a suicide attempt in February.
Myers was car chief for the No. 99 Sprint Cup car from 2006 through 2008. He was replaced as car chief following the 2008 season, when Edwards’ Nationwide crew chief, Pierre Kuettel, was moved to his Cup car chief.
According to his complaint, Myers, a diabetic, ingested 25-30 Tylenol tablets and approximately 200 units of insulin “in an attempt to kill himself” on Feb. 10. The suicide attempt had followed an initial suicide attempt in March 2008 and a partially aborted suicide attempt in October 2008, according to the complaint.
Myers, who was diagnosed with major depressive disorder Feb. 16, was fired by Roush Fenway on Feb. 17, according to the complaint.
Myers is suing under the Family and Medical Leave Act and asks for an unspecified amount in damages.
“There are laws in place that permit people with depression to get the treatment they need, including the Family Medical Leave Act, which permits 12 weeks of leave per year, and the North Carolina common law, which protects people with disabilities from being terminated on that basis,” Myers' attorney Josh Van Kampen said Thursday. “We believe Roush Fenway violated those laws in terminating Jason Myers.”
Roush Fenway Racing President Geoff Smith disputed those claims.
“We’re going to let the facts play out for themselves in court on this one,” Smith said in a statement. “This is the type of frivolous claim that exists only when times are tough.”
