Empty Printer Cartridges Lead to Lawsuit

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CN) - A manager claims that J.P. Morgan Chase fired him after 24 years of service on false charges of selling used-up printer cartridges to a recycler for his own benefit.

Dean Klein says Morgan Chase acted upon a false tip from another employee, who sought an advancement she could achieve only if he and his co-workers were fired.

Klein says he never stole, smuggled or sold the empty cartridges for recycling, and "he asked other employees to stop such activity and did not approve or authorize any other individual to use his name for such activity."

Printer manufacturers have been repeatedly accused in class actions of milking money from their cartridges by making the warning lights flash long before the ink runs dry. But in his complaint in Monroe County Court, Klein says he and his co-workers were accused of selling the cartridges once they truly were empty to an outside recycler.

Klein was a transportation coordinator. He says he was denied a hearing to defend himself, denied counsel, and "forced out of his job ... without just cause." He claims the reason he was fired was to deny him stock options, severance and retirement pay.

He is represented by John Annechino of Penfield, N.Y.

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