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Ex-employee evicted from Fellowship House
An ex-employee of the Fellowship Square Foundation was evicted from the Lake Anne location Monday after he refused to move out upon his termination in August.
Oliver Thomas was hired by the Fellowship Square Foundation as the chief of maintenance for both buildings on April 1, 2003. He was fired in August 2007 in what he believes was retaliation for his vocal concerns about mold and bacteria growing in the building's infrastructure.
Thomas and his family maintain that the 35-year-old building's heating and cooling system is corroded and contains mold that has caused the family severe allergies and health problems.
Director James Garrett said Thomas was fired because of insubordination.
Thomas filed a lawsuit against the Foundation for wrongful termination but continued to live in the apartment initially provided by his former employer.
The family's personal belongings were removed Monday after the Fairfax County Sheriff delivered the eviction notice at 10 a.m.
Oliver Thomas said the family left personal belongings on the curb for the trash in the hurry to move out. A moving company was used to remove their belongings from the apartment.
“We only had one truck, we couldn't secure everything so some things had to be left behind unfortunately,” he said.
After staying in a hotel room last night, Thomas said his new employer, which manages properties, was able to help him find a new apartment that he is in the process of moving into. Thomas has a wife, Lissa, and two sons ages 4 and 9.
“I'm very fortunate to have an employer and a good friend right now. If not, it would have been a terrible situation and we'd still be on the corner right now,” Thomas said.
Thomas said he has been advised by Fellowship management that he is not allowed to return to the property, where his wife's grandmother currently lives. Thomas said he is concerned that she may face retaliation as a result of his lawsuit.
The Thomases covered their vents with tarps and sealed them with tape, to prevent further mold from being blown into the apartment, said Lisa Thomas, Oliver's wife. The family owes thousands of dollars to the Foundation, which began charging rent in August when the Thomases refused to move out.
Thomas's lawyer, Henry Fitzgerald, said he believes it is his client who is in fact owed for wrongful termination. Although the case does not yet have a trial date, Fitzgerald said he expects other residents may join the lawsuit.
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