Age discrimination case begins in Gregg County
Published 10:50 am Tuesday, March 31, 2015
LONGVIEW (KYTX) – Attorneys presented opening arguments Monday afternoon in a Gregg County age discrimination case.
Jimmie Jackson of Camp County is suing his former employer, Longview Bridge and Road, after 13 years working with the company. Longview Bridge and Road handles millions of dollars in state highway projects, including Toll 49 in Tyler.
Jackson says he was turned down for a promotion, then fired six weeks later, after the company president learned Jackson was approaching 60 years old.
Company executives deny the allegation, saying Jackson was among 65 layoffs over a five-month period between August 2012 and January 2013.
“Mr. Jackson put two and two together and said, ‘It has to be my age. I’m a superintendent. I’ve been there 15 years. Nobody has ever complained about my performance,'” plaintiff’s attorney Grace Weatherly says.
“Some different reasons might come into the picture, but in this instance, Mr. Jackson losing his job had nothing to do with his age,” says Zachary Austin, the defendant’s attorney.
Testimony continues today at the Gregg County Courthouse.
Jackson is seeking damages for anguish and lost wages, but no dollar amount has been mentioned.
