Fired Crown Store Manager Sues
Jean Richardson -- 6/15/98
William Ritter, former manager of Crown Books' Cherry Hill, N.J., store, has filed a lawsuit against the company and three of its executives charging them with wrongful termination. In the lawsuit, filed June 8 in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Ritter charges that he was fired on Feb. 13, 1998, for "breaking the chain of command," which Crown detailed as "handing out discount flyers without permission." According to the suit, Ritter had obtained permission from Mike Meyerheim, district manager and Ritter's immediate supervisor, for the promotion.Ritter's suit also claims that in order to convince him to relocate to New Jersey, Crown understated its operating viability and that he was "c rced into accepting a relocation that Crown Books ultimately had little intention of supporting." Ritter, who joined Crown in June 1996, was named manager of the Cherry Hill store in November 1997. The suit is seeking $52,153 in back pay and relocation costs, plus court costs and interest. Crown has 60 days to respond to the suit. Stock Still Sinking Meanwhile, Crown's stock price continues to sink, hitting an all-time low of $1 per share on June 10. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Crown's parent company, Richfood Holdings, listed several options it was considering for the chain. In addition to the outright sale of Crown, Richfood said it was also considering an asset sale, recapitalizing Crown or liquidating the company. Richfood executives were unavailable to comment on which way they were leaning. Back To News---> |
