HOUSTON - Houston resident Lynne Keller claims age was a factor in her termination from Experian last year.
Recent court documents filed June 12 in Houston federal court state that Experian dismissed employees who were at least 50 years old and older, including Keller, while retaining their younger colleagues.
The plaintiff worked for the defendant from 1985 to 1999, and again from 2003 to 2007.
According to the suit, she first left Experian 12 years ago "due to harassment against her based upon her age," but returned as part of its specialized sales unit.
Keller points out that the manager who reportedly subjected her to discriminatory treatment during her first stint with the company was brought in to oversee her new division.
The manager "continually demonstrated his bias against older employees, including the plaintiff," the original petition says.
The suit states the supervisor fired or demoted workers who were approximately older than 45 years of age.
Keller was considered for dismissal, but the defendant's human resources department disapproved the move on the grounds the plaintiff had just received the Experian Elite Award, a prestigious company-wide award based on sales performance.
She eventually lost her job on April 12, 2011, because of a "reduction in headcount."
The suit contends the manager of Experian's client support department sent a positive email about "how the plaintiff stepped up and assumed responsibility for accomplishing a particular project" just two days before the layoff.
Consequently, the complainant seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
Attorney Stuart M. Nelkin with Nelkin & Nelkin in Houston is representing Keller.
U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller is presiding over the case.
Case No. 4:12-cv-1767