Former Sino Swearingen chief files suit: Man claims he was forced out because of political pressure

The former chief executive officer of Sino Swearingen AircraftCorp. has filed a lawsuit against the company, saying he was fired.

Carl Chen left the company last month.

The San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday that Chen has sued,accusing Ching-Chiang Kuo, Sino Swearingen's chairman and chiefexecutive officer, of slander and interfering with his contract withthe company.

In his lawsuit, Chen claims he was forced out because of politicalpressure from Taiwan.

Chen is seeking $300,000 in unpaid bonuses and unused vacation andsick time, according to the newspaper.

Chen is a 1969 graduate of West Virginia University.

He had served as president of Sino Swearingen for the past threeyears.

He was among the company executives Gov. Joe Manchin met whenManchin visited Sino Swearingen's headquarters in San Antonio inDecember.

Chen's departure comes as Sino Swearingen prepares to begin fullproduction of its new business jet. The company has orders for 293 ofthe jets.

Sino Swearingen currently assembles the jet in San Antonio, wherethe company has about 500 employees. The company builds the jet'sfuselage, wings and tail at Martinsburg, where it has about 170employees.

The company is going to build a new manufacturing plant that isexpected to eventually employ 700 to 900 people.

Sino Swearingen could expand at either San Antonio or Martinsburg.

"I think it's a jump ball right now," Sino Swearingen ChiefFinancial Officer Kelly Simmons said on Feb. 16 when asked where thecompany will expand. "I think we'll know in the next 30 days."

Regarding Chen's departure, Simmons said last month, "I thinkeveryone here recognizes Carl Chen as someone who did a great job inbringing the company to this point, in getting type certification(for the jet).

When he came three years ago, apparently the program was waffling.

"At this point, we have a different set of skills that have comeinto the organization and I think he realized it was time to move onand that's what happened."

Asked last month about the impact Chen's departure might have,Simmons said, "I think the relationship the company has with WestVirginia is much bigger than any one man."

Ching-Chiang Kuo, Sino Swearingen's new chief executive officer,has a good relationship with Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Simmonssaid last month. Rockefeller has worked on attracting Sino Swearingento West Virginia since 1991.

Contact writer George Hohmann at business@dailymail.com or 348-4836.