Age Discrimination Case Settled on Long Island

An unusual age discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of 17 volunteer firefighters on Long Island has been settled.

In a suit filed nearly a year ago, the EEOC alleged age discrimination in the method by which the Easton’s Neck Fire District credited length of service awards. The fire district refused to let volunteer firefighters over age 65 accrue credits in their retirement benefits program. The settlement announced on Thursday, November 5, 2009 requires the Easton’s Neck Fire District to pay $213,840 to a group of 15 firefighters who will receive retroactive payments, and some others will be getting an increased monthly contributions to the retirement program. More on the story.