ATLANTA AP – The company with the nation’s largest chain of Chevrolet dealerships violated federal labor law when it fired thousands of employees last month, according to a lawsuit filed by a former worker.

Edward Kratzel, who worked at a Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. dealership in Las Vegas, filed the lawsuit Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in northern Alabama. That is where Columbus, Ga.-based Bill Heard sought bankruptcy protection on Sept. 28 after shuttering its remaining dealerships four days earlier.