TYLER - Two college professors have filed a lawsuit against an East Texas college alleging their contracts were not renewed due to their age and race.
Jo Beth Taylor and Blair Farr filed suit against Jarvis Christian College on Jan. 17 in the Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division. The suit accuses the college of age discrimination and racial discrimination.
Taylor was 72 years old when the college did not renew her contact as a professor of English. Farr was 63 years old when the college did not renew his position as an assistant professor of business.
The former instructors state that they were two of six full-time faculty members who were terminated. According to the complaint, five of the terminated employees were white and all six terminated employees were over the age of 40.
The defendant is accused of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and violating the plaintiffs' civil rights due to racial discrimination.
The former employees are asking for an award of damages for lost income, humiliation, embarrassment, emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, damage to reputation, punitive damages, interest, attorney's fees and court costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by Curtis B. Stuckey of Stuckey, Garrigan & Castetter Law Offices in Nacogdoches.
A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis is assigned to the case.
Case No. 6:12-CV-00024