R.Ph. to finally get his day in court

This month a jury in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Champaign County, Ill., is expected to hear a countersuit that was filed by Bruce Kelle, R.Ph., against Albertson's, doing business as Osco, for sign-on bonus breaches.

According to a clerk in the circuit court, Albertson's filed a suit against pharmacist Kelle in August 2003. The suit called for Kelle to return sign-on bonus monies that he received in August of 2000. On March 16, 2004, Kelle filed the countersuit for breaches of contract of Osco's sign-on incentive bonus.

Kelle alleges that Osco advertised and promised moving expenses, which were not paid according to IRS rules. Kelle further alleges that a written preemployment stipulation of specific dates when he would be off work so he could attend his children's graduations was not observed. The suit also charges Osco with a third willful breach of its employment advertising and employment offers with its failure to provide medical insurance.

Indicating that he is being represented by Dodson, Piraino & Associates, Champaign, Ill., Kelle said, "There have been a couple of amendments to the suit. I have been through two lawyers. Osco's lawyer was too busy with several court cases, and that caused a six-month delay.

On Jan. 10 my lawyers notified us that they were going to take depositions of me, the pharmacist-in-charge at the store, and the regional pharmacy district manager who hired me. By Feb. 2, the pharmacy divisional manager was no longer employed by Osco."

Kelle himself is no longer with Osco but with Doc's Drugs in Leroy, Ill.

At press time, Drug Topics' phone calls to Osco were not returned.