Fort Bend Co. resident's lawsuit alleges Avaya terminated older employees

HOUSTON - Complaining his age was the reason Avaya Inc. fired him last year, Fort Bend County resident Dwayne Picou pursues legal action.

A lawsuit filed March 25 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas argues Picou's alleged termination was one of many targeting the company's older workers.

Avaya employed Picou as a Territory Account Manager III from Sept. 8, 2011, to April 2, 2012.

Recent court documents state that the manager who hired the plaintiff was himself dismissed supposedly because of his age, claiming the defendant embarked on a campaign to "go younger."

Soon afterwards, it terminated Picou without providing a reason let alone subjecting him to disciplinary action as dictated by company policy, the original petition says.

The complainant, who was 50 at the time of the subject events, surmises "he was tossed aside in favor of younger employees."

According to the suit, Avaya replaced Picou with an inexperienced worker in his mid-20s.

"Moreover, the company has recently fired a host of older workers all over the state of Texas and Louisiana - all in a two-month span," it says.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Alfonso Kennard Jr. of Kennard Blankenship Robinson PC in Houston is representing the plaintiff.

Case No. 4:13-CV-833