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Friday, March 29, 2024

Woman alleges snack food firm practiced age discrimination, retaliation

SCRANTON - A Wilkes-Barre woman is suing her former company, alleging age discrimination in her demotion and job termination after 30 years of service.

Joan Konsavage, 54, filed a lawsuit June 12 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Mondelez Global, doing business as Mondelez International Inc. of East Hanover, N.J., alleging employment law violation.

According to the complaint, Konsavage worked for the defendant at its 50 New Commerce Blvd., Wilkes-Barre location, and in 2013, her new supervisor began making ageist and sexist remarks to her and when she complained she was met with hostility. Consequently, the suit states, she escalated her concerns and was instructed to document incidents of discrimination.

The suit says when Konsavage continued to experience disparate treatment, limited participation at meetings and selectively enforced policies, she reiterated her discomfort to management through mid-2014. The lawsuit states Konsavage’s position was “downgraded” June 23, 2014, with her title changed to reflect lesser status. She says her pay was cut along with bonus incentives and she was terminated Sept. 26, 2014.

The suit says the plaintiff's demotion and firing were acts of retaliation for her complaints of discrimination, and she alleges suffering and humiliation as well as monetary losses.

Konsavage seeks back and front pay and benefits, actual and punitive damages, compensatory back and front pay and benefits, interest, attorney fees and court costs. She is represented by attorney Ari Karpf of Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti in Bensalem.

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number: 3:15-cv-1155-RPC.

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