BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — A partner in a Boston law firm says he was penalized for turning 67 years old.
Brian D. Bixby filed a complaint Oct. 30 in the Superior Court Of The Commonwealth Of Massachusetts against Burns & Levinson LLP alleging age discrimination.
Bixby, according to his complaint, joined the Boston firm Burns & Levinson in 1996 and is a partner who specializes in estate planning, fiduciary administration and probate litigation.
He claims he is one the firm's top producers for business and served as chair and co-chair of the firm's Private Client Group. Bixby alleges that when he turned 67 years old, he became the target of age discrimination from the firm's management.
Specifically, Bixby claims he was stripped of his position as co-chair, was demoted and was pushed to retire. He alleges the firm's actions not only violated Massachusetts law but also violated the firm's Transition to Retirement Policy.
Bixby further alleges that after filing a complaint with the state's Commission Against Discrimination, the firm retaliated by lowering his compensation. He also alleges that the firm has pressured at least four other older patners to leave due to their age.
Bixby seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just. He is represented by Inga Bernstein adn Niamh Gibbons of Zalkind Duncan & Berstein LLP in Boston.