DALLAS – Pete’s Car Smart Inc., a car dealership based in Amarillo, Texas, violated federal law by firing a long-time employee based on her age and cardiovascular-related disability, the federal agency announced today.
According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the employee worked for Pete’s Car Smart for nearly 18 years. The employee underwent bypass heart surgery in early 2021 requiring a brief medical leave of absence. In the days leading up to her return from leave, the owner of the company told the employee she needed to retire, or she would be fired because he did not feel she could do her job any longer.
Prior to the employee’s termination, the owner made remarks about the employee’s age, including comments about the color of her hair and that she had “old-timer’s disease.” The owner also made derogatory comments about the employee’s health and physical agility.
Such alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s disability, and the Age in Discrimination Act (ADEA), which prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s age if he or she is 40 or older. The EEOC filed suit, Civil Action No. 2:23-cv-00092, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. In this case, EEOC seeks back pay damages, reinstatement or front pay in lieu thereof, compensatory and punitive damages, and injunctive remedies, including an order prohibiting the employer from engaging in discriminatory treatment in the future.
Source: EEOC
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