Age Discrimination Lawsuit Filed Against Ameritech and Michigan Bell

Strategic Insights -

Five former employees of Ameritech and Michigan Bell, a Detroit-based phone company, have filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court alleging age discrimination. The employees, who range in age from 40 to over 60, claim that they were terminated due to company policies that disproportionately affected older workers. According to the lawsuit, Ameritech's vice president of information and technology, Jim Goetz, stated a preference for candidates under 45 years of age.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit, filed by Huizenga, Hagan, Hergt and Rivers law firm, alleges that Ameritech and Michigan Bell engaged in age discrimination, resulting in the termination of five employees.
  • The employees, James Lukas, William Lakatos, Elizabeth McHale, Donald R. Cady, Jr., and Robert Verriest, were all over the age of 40 when they were let go by the companies.
  • Rudy Huizenga, lead partner in the law firm, stated that the terminations were part of an ongoing process to reduce the workforce, with a disproportionate impact on older employees.
  • The companies' vice president of information and technology, Jim Goetz, allegedly stated a preference for candidates under the age of 45.
  • The lawsuit also mentions another age discrimination suit filed against the companies involving six other employees, which remains pending in Wayne County Circuit Court.

Statistics:

  • Five former employees filed a lawsuit against Ameritech and Michigan Bell, alleging age discrimination.
  • The employees were between the ages of 40 and over 60 when they were terminated.
  • The companies allegedly had a policy of preferring candidates under the age of 45.
  • The lawsuit claims that the companies' policies had a disparate impact on employees over the age of 40.

Sources:

  • PR Newswire, "Detroit area residents, including former Ameritech and C&P Telephone employees, sue companies alleging age discrimination, September 5, 1995.