
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994                   TAG: 9411090056
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

UPS STATES ITS CASE

United Parcel Service has asked a federal judge to dismiss a $6 million slander lawsuit filed last month by a former Roanoke truck driver who claims he was unjustly fired for speaking out against a company policy.

Carl Richardson has said he believes UPS fired him in March because he spoke publicly against a new policy requiring UPS drivers to lift packages weighing up to 150 pounds without assistance from other workers.

In his lawsuit, Richardson claimed UPS justified its decision to fire him by accusing him falsely of loafing on the job and falsifying records.

The suit, originally filed in Roanoke Circuit Court, has been transferred to U.S. District Court.

In its response, Atlanta-based UPS denied that Richardson's dismissal was related to his opposition of the package weight policy.

"He was discharged solely on the fact that he extended his allowed breaks, falsified records and was dishonest," according to one exhibit filed with the company's response.

Richardson, who worked for UPS for 10 years, said in his lawsuit that such statements about his work ethic caused him to suffer "humiliation, embarrassment, mortification, shame, vilification, ridicule ... and financial loss."

The company policy allowing the company to accept heavier packages and ordering its crews to lift them drew pickets - many of whom were members of Richardson's family.

They marched outside the Roanoke UPS package-sorting terminal on Thirlane Road.

UPS said in court records that the picketing was "just another example of [Richardson's] falsifications designed to divert anyone's attention from the true fact that he was dishonest and extended his lunch and breaks."

by CNB