Allegations of workplace retaliation have surfaced as a former recycling operator claims he was fired after reporting safety violations, fraud, and physical assaults at a city-run facility. The complaint was filed by Jamie Lee Davis in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia on April 21, 2026, naming Joe Farmer and Chris Goss as defendants.
According to the court filing, Davis worked full-time as a Recycling Operator for the City of Danville beginning around May 4, 2015. He asserts that both Farmer and Goss held supervisory roles above him within the city’s chain of command. The lawsuit states that all parties were employed by the City of Danville at the time relevant to the dispute.
Davis alleges that his employment was terminated unlawfully in June 2025 after he made several reports about misconduct at his workplace. These reports included claims that coworkers regularly smoked cigarettes inside the recycling facility—an act prohibited by both city policy and state law due to fire risks associated with flammable materials present at the site. Davis provided photographic evidence of cigarette ash on workspaces and submitted timestamped statements to management so violators could be identified using video surveillance footage.
The complaint further details that shortly after these reports were made in early April 2025, Davis experienced acts of vandalism against his workspace. His office key was stolen, his desk was moved into a public area, its contents were disturbed, and rat and bird feces were placed on his belongings. Davis immediately reported this behavior to management, including both named defendants.
On or about April 7, 2025, defendant Joe Farmer allegedly told Davis that his complaints “were being swept under the rug.” A week later, Davis reported additional incidents to management: two separate physical assaults between coworkers observed in March 2025; ongoing fraudulent billing practices involving clients such as Sunoco; and allegations that he had been denied incentive pay owed since 2021 while others received it.
Davis contends that after making these disclosures—which he characterizes as protected speech under federal law and whistleblowing under Virginia’s Fraud and Abuse Whistle Blower Protection Act—he faced escalating hostility from supervisors. This included exclusion from meetings starting May 7, 2025; harassment over minor issues; false criticism; derogatory treatment in front of colleagues; and ultimately termination on June 9, 2025.
The legal basis for Davis’s claims includes two counts: First Amendment freedom of speech retaliation under Title 42 United States Code Section 1983 (Count I), and retaliation in violation of Virginia Code Section 2.2-3011 (Count II). The complaint asserts that Davis’s speech addressed matters of public concern such as workplace safety hazards (including smoking near flammable materials), fraud against clients like Sunoco through billing for unperformed services, physical violence among employees, and wage issues—all reported in good faith.
Davis argues there was no justifiable reason for his termination since he met all legitimate business expectations throughout his employment. He alleges that defendants had actual notice of his protected activities before taking any adverse action against him. The complaint maintains that defendants’ actions were reckless or showed callous indifference to Davis’s legal rights.
As relief from the court, Davis seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress; punitive damages due to what he describes as “reckless, wanton, and shocking actions” by the defendants; back pay; front pay; full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights; prejudgment and post-judgment interest; attorneys’ fees; costs associated with bringing the action; as well as any other relief deemed just by the court. He also requests a jury trial on all triable issues including any questions regarding arbitration agreements—though he states none exist between himself and the employer.
The case is identified as Case No.: 6:26cv42. Jamie Lee Davis is represented by attorney Thomas E. Strelka of Virginia Employment Law based in Roanoke.
Source: 626cv00042_Davis_v_Farmer_Complaint_Western_District_Virginia.pdf
