Date: 09-18-2007

Case Style: Richard A. Morton, Kris D. Puig and Paul A. Lister v. Watco Companies, Inc. and Stillwater Central Railroad, Inc.

Case Number: CIV-06-0088-F

Judge: Stephen P. Friot

Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma (Oklahoma County)

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Stan Ward, Woodrow Glass and Scott Brockman of Ward & Glass LLP, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and A. Craig Tomlin, Law Office of A Craig Tomlin, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Defendant's Attorney:

George Gibbs, Tom Armstrong, Robert Hart, Kevin Hoskins, and Laura Eakens of Gibbs Armstrong Borochoff Mullican & Hart, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Description:

Richard A. Morton, Kris D. Puig and Paul A. Lister sued Watco Companies and Stillwater Central Railroad, Inc. on claiming they were fired by Watco for attempting to form a union. They worked for the Stillwater Central Railroad in Oklahoma City, a wholly owned subsidiary to Watco. Plaintiffs wanted form a union to address unfavorable health and safety conditions. Plaintiffs were terminated after the election to form the union failed by a vote of 9 to 11 in August 2005.

Watco claimed that defendants were terminated for various reasons unrelated to their union forming efforts including calling a manager a derogatory name and walking off the job.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $100,000 in compensatory damages for Richard Morton; $75,000 in compensatory damages for Kris Puig; and $50,000 in compensatory damages for Paul Lister; plus $145,000 in punitive damages for Richard Morton; $145,000 in punitive damages for Kris Puig; and $145,000 in punitive damages for Paul Lister.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None