A Bandera County man is suing over his employer's alleged refusal to enter binding arbitration concerning his termination.
Victor Stines filed the suit Sept. 11 in Jefferson County District Court against Jefferson County, Texas.
According to the complaint, in June 2014 the plaintiff filed what he says should have been an anonymous complaint about Chief Deputy Joe Stevenson. He discovered it was not kept anonymous and he says he was subject to unjust employment practices and wrongful accusations. He was suspended with pay in August 2014 and terminated on Sept. 23, 2014, from his position as a deputy constable.
The collective bargaining agreement states that a deputy may invoke his right to binding arbitration within two weeks of the constable's decision to discipline the deputy. On Oct. 7, plaintiff's counsel mailed an appeal and asserted the plaintiff's right to binding arbitration. That has not happened, the complaint states.
As a result, the plaintiff asks that the defendant be cited to appear and that the court issue a writ requiring the defendant to participate in binding arbitration. He further seeks damages of more than $100,000 but less than $200,000, attorney's fees, court costs, actual damages and other relief which the court deems appropriate.
The plaintiff's attorney is Lance P. Bradley of Bradley, Steele & Pierce LLP, Port Arthur.
Jefferson County District Court case number D-197552.