DALLAS (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced on June 15 that it had filed a lawsuit against Atlas Resource Partners over allegations of pushing out a 52-year old production worker due to his age.
"This is a straightforward case of someone being put in charge who arbitrarily decides to pull the plug on someone else's job,” Robert A. Canino, EEOC's Dallas District Office regional attorney. “When that kind of action is based on a worker being in his 50s, rather than on qualifications, productivity or conduct, it not only fails to take advantage of some of a company's best assets, but violates federal law."
According to allegations, Atlas fired production foreman William Hutto because of his age. The superintendent who terminated him had allegedly been making ageist comments toward older employees, including repeated remarks about being "too old to do the job." EEOC claims that Hutto has a strong track record of job performance and was highly regarded by his peers.
"Mr. Hutto had the work experience and the ability to bring Atlas continued success, but top management unlawfully opted for youth over experience without respect to qualifications," Joel Clark, EEOC trial attorney, said.