web1_HANDCUFFS.jpg

Teen boy charged as an adult in alleged stabbing at supermarket

web1_gavel.jpg

Gambler admits to stealing thousands in winnings at Mohegan Sun Pocono

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A former F.M. Kirby Center employee Tuesday sued the landmark downtown theater in federal court on claims her job was cut for raising concerns about her retirement fund.</p><p>Joan P. Brenton, of Mountain Top, alleged in a 12-page complaint filed Tuesday that the theater eliminated the Director of Membership and Corporate Giving position after she sought more information on a $24,000 sum erroneously deposited into the fund.</p><p>Brenton, an employee for nine years, asked the Kirby Center not to remove any money from her account until she was able to review her records, but claimed the theater did so anyway, the complaint alleges. She learned in May the Kirby Center owed her $800 in earnings that was either improperly transferred from her account or never deposited.</p><p>Brenton was later told her position was among two being cut from the theater&#8217;s development department. She met the qualifications for a new position created to replace it, but learned on June 30 the position was offered to someone outside the theater and following day would be her last on the job, the complaint states.</p><p>Brenton, meanwhile, endured several weeks of &#8220;humiliation and embarrassment&#8221; as the hiring process played out, according to the complaint.</p><p>&#8220;Subsequent to the Kirby&#8217;s unauthorized transfer of monies out of her account, Brenton exercised her rights under the 403(b) Plan and (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act) by seeking information, including an accounting, to determine whether the proper amount of her funds remained in her account and to ensure that she would not be penalized by the withdrawal caused by the Kirby&#8217;s errors,&#8221; states the complaint, filed by attorney Cynthia R. Vullo.</p><p>The complaint alleges the theater breached its duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) when it deposited someone else&#8217;s funds into her account, transferred them out without her approval, failed to provide requested information and terminated her for exercising her rights.</p><p>Brenton seeks unspecified damages.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_gavel-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption"></div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_gavel-4.jpg</photo0><caption0></caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Ex-employee accuses F.M. Kirby Center of retaliation in lawsuit