Manager accuses Tyson Foods of age discrimination

LUFKIN - A manager for Tyson Foods has filed a discrimination lawsuit that claims he was terminated from his job due to his age.

Joe Taylor filed suit against Tyson Foods Inc. and Tyson Farms Inc. on Aug. 15 in Shelby County District Court. The defendants removed the case to the Eastern District of Texas, Lufkin Division on Sept. 24.

According to the suit, Taylor was hired by the defendant in January 1971 and was eventually promoted to the position of Live Haul Manager. According to the allegations, Taylor excelled at Tyson until he suffered a work-related injury in the summer of 2010.

Taylor alleges that by October 2011, his supervisor was mentioning retirement and started discriminating against Taylor. Taylor claims he complained about the age discrimination and other acts of retaliation, but by August 2012 he was terminated.

The defendant is accused of violating the Texas Labor Code for age discrimination.

The plaintiff is seeking an award of actual and liquidated damages for emotional pain, mental anguish, suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, interest, back pay, front pay, exemplary damages, attorney’s fees and court costs.

Taylor is represented by Todd Slobin and Ricardo J. Prieto of Shellist Lazars Slobin LLP in Houston.

U.S. District Judge Ron Clark is assigned to the case.

Case No. 9:13-cv-00245