Former employee accuses Clear Lake dealership of forgery, fraud

A Clear Lake car dealership is being sued over claims it fired an employee for refusing to participate in fraudulent sales practices.

Natalie Welch filed a wrongful termination lawsuit on May 7 in Harris County District Court against Clear Lake Chrysler Jeep Dodge, citing mental anguish and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Welch says on April 17, Clear Lake Dodge fired her because she refused to participate in a system of criminal fraud and forgery. The dealership hired Welch as a billing clerk on June 24, 2011, and by January she noticed a pattern of alleged contract fraud and forged signatures, which included customer charges for unauthorized extended warranty plans, according to the brief.

The suit alleges a new controller at the dealership, Felix Valdez, instructed Welch to ignore fraudulent activities and participate in the illegal activities.

Welch is seeking damages and court costs. She is being represented in the case by Houston attorney David Kriewaldt.  

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-27339.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.