"Keer America Corporation to Pay $32,000 To Settle Age Discrimination Lawsuit", 30 Jul 2019

Indian Land, S.C., textile manufacturer Keer America Corporation has agreed to pay $32,000 and furnish other equitable relief to settle an age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.

According to the EEOC's suit, Keer America offered Scott Gamble, a then 47-year-old sales leader, a job on April 18, 2015.  During the pre-screening hiring process, Keer America learned Gamble's age and ordered the human resources generalist to rescind Gamble's job offer. The human resources generalist refused to rescind the job offer, and Gamble began working for Keer America on April 27.  The company then fired Gamble on May 8. 

The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court in South Carolina (EEOC v. Keer America Corporation, 0:17-CV-02360), after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process...

"Employers who make age-based employment decisions are at risk of violating the ADEA when those decisions impact persons over the age of 40," said Regional Attorney Lynette Barnes for the EEOC's Charlotte District Office. "The EEOC is committed to combatting this practice and enforcing the ADEA against employers who discriminate against older workers."...