SAN FERNANDO VALLEY : Ex-Employee Sues Sears in Wake of Service Scandal

A Reseda man who worked for 16 years in the automotive departments of Sears stores in the San Fernando Valley has sued the company, alleging that he was forced to resign because he refused to sell customers unnecessary parts and services, or charge for services not performed.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Roger Sult charges that his supervisors “required him to sell a daily quota of regular shock absorbers, McPherson struts, transmission services . . . alignments, complete brake jobs, oil changes and a full set of tires to customers regardless of whether customers’ vehicles required the products and services.”

Sult is one of nine ex-employees suing the retail giant, according to a spokesman for Sears. The suits are part of the fallout from Sears’ admission last summer--under pressure from attorneys general in California and other states-- that “mistakes were made” in servicing customers’ cars.

In September, Sears agreed to distribute at least $46.6 million in refunds and service coupons to customers. In California, the company’s license to perform auto repairs was placed on three years probation.