by Ron Gregory
MADISON — Former Boone County Ambulance Authority Director Randy Lengyel is seeking more than $200,000 in unpaid vacation time and penalties. Lengyel’s attorney, Michael Del Giudice, filed a civil suit in Boone County Circuit Court, April 29, demanding the compensation.
According to the suit, Lengyel was employed by the agency from October 2008 through November 12, 2015.
Although the suit refers to Lengyel’s termination, it does not state any reason given for the dismissal. At the time, the board had issues with a personal loan Lengyel received from the agency. Amid turmoil and various appointments to the authority board, Lengyel was dismissed after an investigation by a board committee. Prosecuting Attorney Keith Randolph called the loan “illegal” at the time and demanded repayment fromd Lengyel, who eventually complied with Randolph’s requirement.
Regardless, Lengyel maintains he was terminated and did not receive compensation for his accrued vacation time and compensatory time. The suit lists $47,855 as the amount owed in vacation time and $2,180 in compensatory time. That $50,035 is tripled as damages, the suit says, because the board did not pay Lengyel in a timely manner. In fact, the allegation is that Lengyel has not been compensated for that amount at all.
The suit maintains that the BCAA owes Lengyel the $50,035 plus an additional $150,105, triple that amount for “liquidated damages together with interest on the unpaid wages and attorney fees.” Combined, the suit asks for $200,140.
Del Giudice is a Charleston attorney. At press time, the BCAA had not yet filed its response but Board Chairman Josh Barker said the BCAA board is “determined to represent the best interests of the citizens of Boone County. We are not going to give in to every demand somebody makes if we think it is not correct. We will must have to wait and see what the court decides on this one.”