Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 Source: Huntsville Times (AL) Copyright: 2003 The Huntsville Times Contact: http://www.htimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730 Author: David Holden Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing) TRUCKER SUES FIRM OVER DRUG RESULTS Trinity Man Says Test Found Cocaine, But It Was Wrong When Michael Ellis Alred gave a urine sample in July as required by his employers in a routine random drug screening, he didn't foresee the trouble it would cause him. Alred is suing his former employer, Southeastern Freight Lines Inc., for at least $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages on an allegation of slander. The company's screening test showed that Alred, 33, of Trinity, tested positive for cocaine use. According to his lawsuit, Alred was shocked at the results. As a result of the failed drug test, he contends, he was fired on July 18 after 7 1/2 years as a driver with the freight company. "I didn't think they would do me like that since I had worked for them for so long," he said. The manager at the company's Decatur office where Alred worked said Wednesday he could not comment and referred questions to the corporate office in Lexington, S.C. Corporate officials did not return repeated telephone calls. After learning of the drug test result, Alred told his immediate bosses there was a mistake, said his lawyer, Mark Dutton of Moulton. They didn't listen to him, Dutton said. Then Alred hired two independent laboratories in Decatur to analyze samples of his blood and hair follicles, Dutton said. The analyses were negative for cocaine, speed, narcotics, and marijuana, he said. The independent drug tests cost Alred $110, but it verified that the company's drug test was incorrect, Dutton said. "I wrote the company a certified letter in August, but Southeastern has never responded," he said. Alred "has to get this cleared up before he can get a job as a driver anywhere else." Dutton filed the case last week in Madison County Circuit Court. Southeastern has also opposed Alred's claim for state unemployment compensation checks, Dutton said. In the meantime, Dutton said, his client is doing odd jobs and depending on support from his family. Clerks in the court said Wednesday that the notice of the lawsuit was returned to the courthouse marked as "unable to serve" at the Decatur location on Swancott Road. Southeastern has a work force of about 6,000 employees and hauls freight in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin