Former wildlife manager for New Mexico ranch owned by Ted Turner alleges wrongful firing

Man claims wrongful firing from Turner’s NM ranch

RATON, N.M. — A former wildlife manager for a northern New Mexico ranch owned by media mogul Ted Turner alleges he was wrongfully fired from the ranch after a new general manager began pushing religion on employees.

James Baker’s complaint does not charge religious discrimination, but says his three-decade-plus career at Vermejo Park Ranch went sour because he didn’t attend Bible classes run by general manager Mark Kossler.

Baker’s lawsuit alleges that almost immediately after being hired, Kossler began preferential hiring and firing practices, based on attendance at workplace religious services he instituted.

Defendants are Kossler and Turner Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based firm owned by Turner.

Kossler declined to comment and referred questions Atlanta lawyer Jeffrey Mokotoff. The lawyer said he had not seen the complaint and could not comment.

Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, www.sfnewmexican.com