McKinney sues over Burley Co-op resignation
Nov 16, 2007—LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Danny McKinney, who resigned as chief executive of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative at the request of its board of directors in December, has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the association.
The story was reported in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The lawsuit, which was filed in Fayette Circuit Court, also names Roger Quarles, who is director and president of the board of directors, and each member of the board.
McKinney claims he was forced to resign because Quarles wanted staff members who were under the age of 40 – McKinney was 57. McKinney contends Quarles wanted his job so he undermined McKinney by excluding him from meetings, berating him in front of other employees and fabricated a complaint of sexual harassment against him.
McKinney claims he was forced to resign without cause, costing more than $1.5 million in salary and benefits and causing him “severe emotional distress.”
The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. Claims made in filing a lawsuit present only one side of the case.
Doug Stephan, a Lexington attorney representing the co-op, said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit and could not yet comment.
After McKinney resigned, the co-op said he had retired. The co-op represents burley producers in Kentucky and four other states.
McKinney worked with the Lexington-based co-op for 19 years — a period in which tobacco’s role as an agricultural staple in Kentucky declined amid nationwide anti-smoking campaigns and a buyout that ended Depression-era federal price supports.
The co-op, which was formed in the early 1920s, promotes the marketing of tobacco for its members.
During McKinney’s tenure, the co-op helped open the potentially lucrative Chinese market to U.S. leaf.
Nov 16, 2007—LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Danny McKinney, who resigned as chief executive of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative at the request of its board of directors in December, has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the association.
The story was reported in the Louisville Courier-Journal. The lawsuit, which was filed in Fayette Circuit Court, also names Roger Quarles, who is director and president of the board of directors, and each member of the board.
McKinney claims he was forced to resign because Quarles wanted staff members who were under the age of 40 – McKinney was 57. McKinney contends Quarles wanted his job so he undermined McKinney by excluding him from meetings, berating him in front of other employees and fabricated a complaint of sexual harassment against him.
McKinney claims he was forced to resign without cause, costing more than $1.5 million in salary and benefits and causing him “severe emotional distress.”
The lawsuit is seeking a jury trial and punitive and compensatory damages. Claims made in filing a lawsuit present only one side of the case.
Doug Stephan, a Lexington attorney representing the co-op, said he had not seen a copy of the lawsuit and could not yet comment.
After McKinney resigned, the co-op said he had retired. The co-op represents burley producers in Kentucky and four other states.
McKinney worked with the Lexington-based co-op for 19 years — a period in which tobacco’s role as an agricultural staple in Kentucky declined amid nationwide anti-smoking campaigns and a buyout that ended Depression-era federal price supports.
The co-op, which was formed in the early 1920s, promotes the marketing of tobacco for its members.
During McKinney’s tenure, the co-op helped open the potentially lucrative Chinese market to U.S. leaf.
