HOUSTON — A former Mesa Line Services CFO is alleging the company failed to pay her severance benefits per an employment contract.
Lynn Nazareth filed a complaint March 29 in Harris County District Court against Mesa Line Services LLC alleging breach of contract.
Nazareth alleges in her complaint that she was hired to serve as Mesa Line's chief financial officer on Sept. 3, 2019, and entered into an employee agreement that included her being entitled to "certain severance benefits" equal to 1.5 times her base salary to be paid in monthly payments. According to the agreement, Nazareth was to be paid severance if her employment was terminated "without cause."
She claims that on Feb. 23, 2021, she was terminated without cause and that "based upon language" in a letter she received from Mesa Line, the company would "honor its obligation to pay severance." Nazareth further claims that on March 5, 2021, a second letter stated Mesa Line was going to "convert" her termination to "for cause" and "would no longer be paying" her severance. She alleges she is fully entitled to the severance benefits and that Mesa Line is in breach of her employment contract.
Nazareth seeks monetary relief between $250,000 and $1 million, interest and all other just relief. She is represented by Stewart Hoffer of Hicks Thomas LLP in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-18419