PHILADELPHIA — A 65-year-old Yardley man is suing Marriott International, a hospitality company, citing alleged discrimination.
Richard Kelley filed a complaint on April 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Marriott International, doing business as Philadelphia Airport Marriott Hotel, alleging that the hospitality company terminated his employment because of his age, violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, starting in 2010, he repeatedly received negative performance evaluations from new supervisor Sandra LeBlanc, the the plaintiff claims his work was satisfactory. In 2012, the plaintiff received disciplinary warnings from Barry Kadel, director of hotel operations, according to the suit, which also says the plaintiff was suspended on grounds of alleged food preparation violations. Finally, plaintiff was terminated on grounds of poor job performance, the suit says.
The plaintiff holds Marriott International responsible because the defendant allegedly targeted him repeatedly and gave him disciplinary warnings but spared the younger employees. Defendant suspended plaintiff for a violation even though the latter wasn't at work during the time the "violation" was committed, according to the suit, which also says the defendant terminated the plaintiff and replaced him of a less-experienced employee.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensation for the wages and other benefits and emoluments of employment lost, award of front pay, punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of suit and attorney and expert witness fees, and such other relief as is deemed just and proper. He is represented by Sidney L. Gold of Sidney L. Gold & Assoc., P.C. in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-01796-GEKP