Story Update Civil Rights Federal Law Suit

Radio Disk Jockey Civil Rights Case Is Served Upon Defendants

The case 2:04-01373, Jurisdiction: Federal Question; Cause: 42:1981 Civil Rights: Hempfling v. L.M. Communications Inc, a Lexington Kentucky Corporation, parent and controlling Corporation, and L.M. Communications of South Carolina, Inc (WYBB 98X) and L.M. Communications II of South Carolina Inc., (WCOO, The Bridge at 105.5) has been served upon the Defendants by the Fayette County Sheriff's office and the Charleston County Sheriff's office.

The case, 'retaliation with malice in reckless indifference to the civil rights of a protected individual and pretext to hide the retaliatory motive' is filed in The United States 4th District Court in Charleston South Carolina and is assigned to Judge Patrick Michael Duffy.

The case, its complaint and records are available for public view through a link provided at http://www.rollovermartin.com  through the United States Court System's PACER file retrieval process. Enter case number : 2:04cv01373 to retrieve the documents. 

The case involves former morning radio personality, 'Lee Kent' of WCOO: COOL 105.5, who's legal name is Lee Kent Hempfling and is now residing in Apache Junction, Arizona, who served as Program Director of WCOO in Charleston during 2002. The complaint alleges, and provides over 100 written documents in evidence (nearly 500 pages) showing that Hempfling was fired for having attempted to hire an African American radio personality after she had resigned, alleging civil rights violations by the company before Hempfling arrived. After 5 and a half months of near daily intimidation, retaliation and harrassment, Hempfling was fired from the position as Program Director of WCOO.

The company settled the filed EEOC charge with the African American radio personality (Patricia Thompson, now living in Columbia, SC) in May of 2003.

The company has presented a pretext reason for the discharge as 'unsatisfactory job performance' to the EEOC who dismissed the charge filed by Hempfling and issued a 'Right To Sue' letter. 

Hempfling has filed the case 'pro se' in Federal Court. The case demands back pay, front pay, compensatory and punitive damages.