MCMINNEVILLE, Ore. (AP) – A former parishioner of a McMinnville church who reported his pastor to labor officials for not paying students in a church landscaping business is now suing the pastor for defamation.
The News-Register reports James Goings is suing Abundant Life Pentecostal pastor William Davies and his son Matthew Davies for $950,000.
Goings previously complained to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries that Davies didn’t pay overtime or failed to pay at all for landscaping work done by his Christian Academy students.
Eight teens filed wage and hour complaints. The state ordered the Davises to pay a total of $4,464 to the students.
Goings claims he was excommunicated and discredited by the pastor in front of the congregation.
A lawyer for Davies said the claims are “without merit.”