Age discrimination lawsuit filed against nonprofit camp

SHERMAN-A Texas woman in her mid-50s has filed a lawsuit against her former employer for systematically committing age discrimination and ultimately terminating her employment because of her age.

Accusing her former employer of violating Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Karen Bray filed suit against the nonprofit All Saints Camp & Conference Center, a youth camp operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, on Aug. 6 in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas.

With 23 years of business management experience, Bray was hired in February 2009 to serve as the operations director for the camp located in Pottsboro.

About three months later, she was discharged by the camp's executive director allegedly after a misunderstanding at the dining hall. Bray claims the dining hall staff was not told that 110 children would be eating lunch, but that she and the dining hall director overcame the problem.

She alleges she was placed on suspension due to the incident and terminated a week later.

The plaintiff states the executive director showed a consistent bias against older people working in or with the camp. She claims the executive director referenced other employees as being "just old," called one employee an "old man," and referenced the camp's operating policies as "an old policy written by old men."

The defendant is accused of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Texas Labor Code.

Bray is seeking damages for lost wages, future lost wages, attorney fees, mental anguish, exemplary damages and interest.

Bray is represented by Robert E. L. Richardson and Robert E. Richardson Jr. of Richardson Law Firm in Sherman.

Jury trial requested.

U.S. District Judge Richard Schell is assigned to the case.

Case No. 4:10cv00396