Age Discrimination Lawsuit Against Marymount Manhattan College Settled

Marymount Manhattan College, located in New York City, has settled a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for refusing to hire an assistant professor because of her age.

Patricia Catterson, 64, had applied for an assistant professorship in dance composition but Marymount hired a 38-year-old applicant instead. Catterson was at the time an employee of Marymount, a private liberal arts college.

According to the terms of the settlement, Marymount will pay Catterson $125,000. The college must also comply with the requirements of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and must monitor and train employees on anti-discrimination law. The consent decree will last four years.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) prohibits age discrimination against employees and job applicants who are age 40 or older. The ADEA further prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for reporting age discrimination or participating in an investigation relating to such discrimination. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) similarly forbids employers from failing to hire individuals or restricting employees based on their age.

If you have faced similar discrimination at your place of employment, please contact Khorrami, LLP for a confidential consultation.