HARRISBURG - A major American retail company filed a petition seeking to remove a lawsuit against it from the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County to the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania on June 25.
Philip C. Whitlock of East Stroudsburg originally filed an action against Illinois-based Sears, Roebuck and Co., in the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County on May 28. The defendant wishes to have jurisdiction of the matter transferred to the U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania.
In his complaint, Whitlock alleged three causes of action: violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, infringement of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act; and violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for alleged reverse gender discrimination.
Sears maintains that the present lawsuit is removable from state court to the district court because it is a civil action arising from federal law. The matter in controversy is stated to exceed $75,000 exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees, and court costs.
The defendant is represented by Todd Ewan and Christin Kim of Fisher & Phillips in Radnor.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Case 3:15-cv-01242-UN2.