A southwest Ohio woman
who says that she was fired because she voted for President Barack Obama filed a lawsuit
against her former employer. Patricia Kunkle's lawsuit accuses Dayton-based
defense contractor Q-Mark Inc.and its president of telling employees that
if Obama was re-elected, then his supporters would be the first to be fired,
reports the Dayton Daily News.
Brian Wildermuth, an attorney for the
company president, said in a statement that Kunkle was laid off for economic
reasons -- "nothing more."
"I am sure you and
your readers are familiar with the ongoing uncertainties regardingdefense spending, and thus the economic environment
confronting defense contractors," he said. "The allegation that
Q-Mark discharged Ms. Kunkle because of her vote is simply false."
Kunkle, of Kettering, has an unlisted
phone number and her Dayton attorney didn't immediately respond to a request to
speak with her.
The lawsuit, filed in Montgomery
County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 14, seeks a minimum of
$25,000. It says that Kunkle's vote came up in conversation on Nov. 7, the day
after the election, and that she was fired Nov. 9. The suit claims that the
company's president and owner, Roberta Gentile, said the firing was in the
"best interest of the company."
The lawsuit said that Gentile engaged
Q-Mark employees in conversations aimed at discovering their political
affiliations and repeatedly disparaged Obama supporters.
Kunkle started as a temporary worker
with the small company in April and became full-time in May, according to the
lawsuit. The lawsuit said that she performed her duties "efficiently and
effectively," and never received any disciplinary action or negative
performance evaluations.
Defense attorneys have until mid-March
to respond to the lawsuit.
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