EMPLOYMENT LAW: EEOC Helps Settles Age Discrimination Suit for $25,000

April 15, 2010

Wheeler County, OR – The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in behalf of Patricia Hyatt has reached a $25,000 settlement with Wheeler County to end an age discrimination lawsuit filed last 2006. Hyatt was 60 at the time the lawsuit was filed.

According to the lawsuit, Hyatt applied for an office assistant post with the county assessor’s office in 2006 but was never interviewed.

"She initially suspected that she had been the target of age discrimination when she received a letter that informed her she had been rejected based on her work experience, longevity, or other factors,” EEOC trial attorney Marcie Mitchell said.

However, Hyatt had 40 years of experience and it was discovered that the county eventually hired a younger candidate with less experience for the post.

Wheeler County has also agreed to pay Hyatt’s lost wages and conduct an anti-discrimination training for its staff.