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

DATE: TUESDAY, May 23, 1995                   TAG: 9505240019
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT                                 LENGTH: Medium

BANK ASKS FOR SUIT TO BE DROPPED

Euell W. Naff, former president of First Virginia Bank-Franklin County, brought a $2 million lawsuit against the company in April, claiming he was used as a "scapegoat" for alleged sexual discrimination practices at the Franklin County bank.

Naff, 62, also accused bank officials of pushing him out of his job because of his age.

Two lawyers in Falls Church, where First Virginia has its headquarters, filed a motion this month in Franklin County requesting that Naff's suit be dismissed because the facts do not constitute an actual discharge of employment.

The motion also argues that Naff's complaint is against First Virginia Bank-Franklin County, and not against First Virginia Banks Inc., the holding company which owns stock in 23 member banks, including the one in Franklin County.

Each of the 23 banks operates as a distinct entity with its own officers and directors.

According to Naff's suit, members of the Franklin County bank's board of directors - of which he was a member - met May 26, 1994. A day later, the board's chairman, Rocky Mount attorney Keister Greer, met with Naff and advised him the board was going to fire him because of a sexual discrimination claim against the bank.

Naff maintains he has never been informed about the specifics of the complaint.

In June, Naff - who had been demoted to executive vice president of the bank and removed from the board - said he asked two of First Virginia's top executives if he could delay his termination until Jan. 7 by announcing his early retirement.

One of the executives replied: "That's what I wanted you to say," according to the suit. Naff, who worked for the bank for 19 years, then announced his early retirement.

His attorneys have requested a hearing on the dismissal motion, but Franklin County Circuit Court Judge B.A. Davis III sent a letter to the Virginia Supreme Court earlier this month asking that he be disqualified and another judge appointed to the case.

Davis asked to be disqualified because Keister Greer will be required to testify, and Greer, as a local attorney, has practiced law in Davis' court for a number of years.