Kelby Thomas Gray

Experience

Obtained Summary Judgment in Disability Discrimination Case

Client: Greenbrier Minerals

We represented a coal company in federal court on multiple employment discrimination claims in a failure to hire case following the company’s asset acquisition of an operating mine. We obtained summary judgment a month before the scheduled jury trial. The court ruled for defendant for two reasons: 1) Even if plaintiff could prove a prima facie case, he did not produce evidence to rebut the employer’s legitimate business reasons for its decision; and 2) The West Virginia Human Rights Act does not require an employer to provide, as an accommodation, the less physically demanding communications job the plaintiff sought when the buyer filled the job with the same person who was working in that communications job immediately before the sale took place.

Decertification Defense

When a miner was facing decertification proceedings from the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training, he turned to Dinsmore. Our client was accused of not properly locking and tagging a piece of equipment, which violates state law. As a result, the state of West Virginia sought permanent decertification of the miner. We conducted on-site research at the mine, interviewing witnesses and examining the company’s safety policies, procedures and records. We determined the alleged violation did not rise to the level of permanent decertification and entered into negotiations with the state of West Virginia. We reached a settlement favorable to our client, allowing him to avoid permanent decertification and return to work.