PHILADELPHIA - A Warminster resident claims he was fired from his employment with a machine parts manufacturer based on his age.
John Burke filed a lawsuit June 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against B&G Manufacturing Company, Inc., alleging wrongful termination and violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
According to the civil action complaint, Burke, 61, worked for the defendant as a quality engineer from June 2012 to early February 2015. The suit states that on Feb. 3, 2015, despite Burke doing his job well, he was terminated because of an alleged job elimination.
Burke believes he was laid off because of his age because he was treated differently than younger employees and was capable of performing a wide range of engineering or engineering-related positions that he could be been placed in another position.
Moreover, the defendant hired a less experienced and less qualified individual approximately half Burke's age to replace him (in a position with a different job title but with the same duties Burke was previously responsible for) and another older employee was also terminated for the same job elimination reason and replaced by someone younger, he claims. A memo featuring comments that would qualify as age discrimination was also circulated among members of management before Burke was terminated, the plaintiff claims.
Burke seeks all pay and benefits he would have otherwise received if he wasn't terminated; compensation for suffering and humiliation as a result of the defendant's actions; liquidated damages; attorney fees and costs of suit; and other relief deemed appropriate by the court. The plaintiff is being represented by Ari R. Karpf of Karpf, Karpf & Cerutti, P.C. in Bensalem.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number: 2:15-cv-03356-TJS.