Woman accuses AT&T of age discrimination

A Houston woman has sued AT&T for alleged age discrimination during her 15-year employment.

Beverly Hawkins filed a lawsuit Feb. 23 against AT&T in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, citing discrimination.

According to the suit, Hawkins, who is older than 40, and is protected by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), worked for AT&T from 1999 until last year. AT&T has engaged in practices which result in forcing out older employees in favor of younger ones, the suit states, and Hawkins was accused of forging documents regarding personal time off, and was terminated March 25, 2014.

The complaint states the firing was retaliatory for Hawkins having filed a grievance with her union, the Communication Workers Of America Local 6222, on Feb.19, 2014.

Hawkins seeks: injunctive relief; compensation for lost wages in the approximate amount of $750,000; $250,000 for mental distress; plus attorney fees, expenses and costs. She is represented by attorney Samuel Beale of Houston.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas case number: 4:15-CV-00498