SPOKANE, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced a lawsuit Oct. 25 against Professional Endodontics P.C., a dental surgery practice with headquarters in Southfield, Michigan, for allegations of firing an employee because of her age.
The EEOC contends Karen Ruerat was fired four days before her 65th birthday due to a company-mandated retirement age of 65. She had been a receptionist for Professional Endodontics for more than 37 years.
This alleged policy violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which protects individuals who are 40 or older from employment discrimination because of their age. The EEOC filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
"Terminating an employee because he or she turns 65 is illegal," said Miles Uhlar, trial attorney for the EEOC's Detroit Field Office. "The EEOC is pursuing this matter because federal law provides specific protection to members of our workforce, like Ms. Ruerat, who are 40 or above."
EEOC’s Detroit Field Office is part of the Indianapolis District Office, which oversees agency operations in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and parts of Ohio.