Los Angeles, CA: A week after the unexpected closing of American LaFrance' Moncks Corner location, a federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) class action law suit has been filed on behalf of laid off employees. Two former employees filed suit against the plant claiming they and others weren't given proper notice of termination as required under the WARN act, before being laid off January 17, 2014. Both employees worked for American LaFrance for approximately 10 years until their termination.
American LaFrance abruptly closed its facilities in Moncks Corner, Ephrata, PA., and Los Angeles, CA, which resulted in the layoffs of approximately 150 employees.
In a written statement to employees the 173-year-old manufacturer of fire, rescue and other emergency vehicles, announced it was closing its warehouse, production and service facilities in Moncks Corner; Ephrata, PA; and Los Angeles. "Unfortunately, the company' unexpected current financial condition requires the discontinuation of operations in these locations at this time and these facilities are not expected to reopen,"the statement read.
American LaFrance moved its headquarters and main assembly plant from North Charleston to Summerville in mid-2007. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in January 2008 after having lost $104 million over the previous two years. The company moved in August from its 450,000-square-foot Summerville factory to a 103,000-square-foot building at 164 Spring Grove Road, off Cypress Gardens Road in Moncks Corner.
Jay Ward, an attorney at Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman, is representing the plaintiffs, stating that the terminations were not handled properly.
