Former NationsWay Workers Head to Court Over Wages

Fifty-five NationsWay Transport Service employees, laid off by the carrier's bankruptcy closure, filed a lawsuit against the company's management to recover lost wages, vacation pay and other reimbursements they claim are owed to them.

Attorney Evan S. Lipstein asked the Denver District Court to certify the lawsuit as a class action, which would allow him to represent the 3,000 or so employees left unpaid and jobless when NationsWay of Denver closed its doors May 20.

"Our best estimate at this time is in the range of $5 million to $7 million in unpaid wages for the total outstanding payroll," he said.

Lipstein said calls from people wanting to get involved with the lawsuit have been pouring in since he filed a motion with the court June 7.

He and two other Colorado lawyers are using a state law that holds managers individually liable for unpaid wages to sue Jerry McMorris, president of NationsWay, and Harold R. Roth, George R. Roberge, Jim R. Feehan, Mike Hampton and Lester Smith, all senior officials or vice presidents with the company.

"We're not suing the company, because you can't when they're in bankruptcy," said Lipstein. "All you can do is file a claim with the bankruptcy court and stand in line."

For the full story, see the June 14 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.

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