Although many of us would like to believe that it is, employment discrimination is not a thing of the past. Every day, employers make decisions about hiring, firing, promotions, demotions and other matters. While prohibited from considering sex, race, age or disability, when making these decisions, some employers ignore these rules.
Georgia Regents University has recently been accused of just this type of misconduct.
Anthony W. Duva worked for the university for almost a decade and in 2013 was acting as a Senior Director of Development for Gift Planning in the Advancement Department. He was allegedly told by his superior, the Senior Vice President for Advancement and Chief Development Officer, Susan Barcus, that he would soon be receiving a raise as a result of the high quality of his work. A short while later he was fired from his position via a letter of termination. The university was instituting a workplace reduction plan and Duva’s position was outsourced. Duva claims that after he received the letter and brought it Barcus’ attention that she told him that she was honoring his termination request and outsourcing the position as he had asked. Duva denies that he ever made such a request.
Duva is claiming age discrimination and has brought a lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia and several officials including the university’s president. Duva asserts that university President Ricardo Azziz complained that many of the university’s workers were too old. Duva also accuses Barcus of inquiring about his retirement on various occasions. He also claims that younger individuals were hired or kept on at the same time that he was fired. If these allegations are true and it can be proven that Duva was terminated due to his age, he may be entitled to significant compensation.
If you believe that you have been
discriminated against at work due to your age, sex, race or disability, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced employment law attorney. The lawyers at Pankey & Horlock can help. Call (770)670-6250 for a consultation today.