Maryland town settles EEOC age discrimination charges for $235,000

The town of Elkton, Md., has agreed to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, paying $235,000 to resolve the case and implement employee training.

The settlement resolves a 2010 lawsuit filed against the town for allegedly violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, in Baltimore, the EEOC said in a statement Wednesday.

In the suit, the EEOC alleged that the town of Elkton in 2007 openly discussed and subsequently fired Andrew P. Johnson from his dual position as finance director and assistant town administrator because of his age, 70, according to the suit.

During the discussions over Mr. Johnson’s future employment, one commissioner said Mr. Johnson was “no young chick,” the EEOC said in the statement. Mr. Johnson’s positions were later filled by two younger employees.

“The effect of the practices … has been to deprive Johnson of equal employment opportunities and otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee because of his age,” the EEOC said in the suit.

In addition to paying $235,000 to Mr. Johnson, the town of Elkton agreed to implement a policy for all employees prohibiting age discrimination and provide annual training for managers and employees, the EEOC said.

The town of Elkton did not immediately return requests for comment.