Former Legion Brewing employee alleges safety violations in Charlotte locations
A former Legion Brewing employee is suing the Charlotte brewery, alleging that management for years ignored his warnings about OSHA violations, did not comply with ADA regulations and later fired him for being a “squeaky wheel.”
In the lawsuit filed in Mecklenburg Superior Court , Joshua Denton wrote that the brewery — which has locations in Plaza Midwood, South Park and off West Morehead Street — exposed him to improperly stored chemicals and failed to provide personal protective equipment, even as “heavy metal rods” fell from the 19-foot ceiling above employee workstations.
For nearly seven years, Denton tried to bring up the problems and was routinely told “that safety measures ‘that required money’ would have to wait,” he alleged in the lawsuit. When Denton suggested that the brewery invite government officials to inspect and give guidance on how to remedy the issues, the lawsuit alleges, Legion owner Phil Buchy said “he would fire anyone that invited OSHA into a Legion Facility.”
A Legion representative said the business would not comment on pending legal matters or personnel.
Denton was hired in 2018 as a cellar man maintaining brewing equipment, and eventually became the safety and maintenance manager. The lawsuit says Legion had no OSHA-compliant programs when he was hired. When Denton brought this up, he was tasked with writing materials and training employees who had been operating forklifts without the proper education, he alleged.
Denton, represented by attorney Brian Clarke, said employees were exposed to deafening noise levels in the brewing area with no protective gear. “Most alarmingly,” rods used to secure piping in the West Morehead location began to fall 19 feet into employee work stations, sinks and air compressors in 2023, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in December.
“Josh instructed his coworkers to wear hard hats when working in this area of the West Morehead location, but that Legion only had two hard hats, so they would have to share and take turns using them,” Denton wrote.
Denton was abruptly fired in January 2025 less than 24 hours after he again warned management of a metal hanger dangling above a work station, the lawsuit said.
Denton also said Legion did not adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act after he underwent wrist surgery and his doctor placed him on light work and no lifting restrictions. Denton “did everything right: he notified management, provided documentation, and explicitly requested duty modifications,” according to the lawsuit. But Legion continued to give him “grueling tasks.”
