Dealership sued by ex-manager claiming age discrimination

GALVESTON - A Houston man claims his employer dismissed him because he filed complaints about alleged age discrimination, recent court documents say.

Mark Theodoridis alleges he was constantly harassed and discriminated against during his two stints as Gay Buick GMC Inc.'s fleet and credit union manager.

The suit, filed Aug. 17 in Galveston County District Court, states Theodoridis worked for the defendant from November 1999 to April 2010.

"He alleges that age was a motivating factor in the constructive discharge of his employment," the complaint says. "He further alleges that he was retaliated against."

According to the original petition, Theodoridis filed a grievance with the Texas Workforce Commission in 2005 and resigned from his position two years later because the situation was not remedied.

Gay Buick GMC rehired the plaintiff in October 2009, promising him that "things had changed for the better," the suit says.

Theodoridis resumed his duties and responsibilities the following month.

He asserts that the defendant gave younger employees preferential treatment, and he was still a target of harassment and discrimination, insisting he was not invited to luncheons and not paid more commission on Internet sales.

The plaintiff was terminated on April 22.

Theodoridis says that he suffered embarrassment among co-workers and his likelihood of finding future employment has been negatively affected.

Consequently, he seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

Attorney Gregg M. Rosenberg of Houston is representing the plaintiff.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 10th District Court Judge David Garner.

Case No. 10-cv-2299