Below is a sample of cases mediated by Steve Pearl:
Action by 56-year-old man, alleging that his former employer, a manufacturer, fired him and another employee over the age of 40 because of their age and replaced them with younger workers. The employer alleged that it terminated plaintiff because its business had slowed, that it did not hire anyone to replace plaintiff, and that remaining workers in his department divided his responsibilities. Resolved at mediation.
Action by 53-year-old woman, alleging that her employer in the financial services industry terminated her based on her age and medical condition (cancer). The plaintiff alleged that the employer forced her to train her replacement, a woman under the age of 40, before her termination. The employer alleged that it terminated the plaintiff in a bona fide reduction in force, that the executive who made the termination decision did not know the plaintiff’s medical condition or age, and that the plaintiff and other employees subject to the RIF were not replaced. Resolved at mediation.
Action by 76-year-old man, alleging that he was terminated because of his age after more than 40 years of employment as a household employee. The defendants, who were the children of the couple for whom the plaintiff had worked, alleged that they terminated the plaintiff because he provided alcohol to their mother, even though he had been warned that alcohol could cause serious harm to her health. Resolved on a mediator’s proposal.