Fired copy editor sues LAT for age bias

Courthouse News reports:

A longtime copy editor for the Los Angeles Times sued Tribune Co. for age discrimination, claiming it fired him and 111 other people older than 40 in July, but only 27 people younger than 40, because of "a stereotypical belief that the staff over 40 and particularly over 50 was not capable of adjusting to an online news environment."

John Gallant says his salary was "in the high 80s non-inclusive of benefits" when he was given the ax on July 14, effective July 18. He says he was hired in 1996, had a stellar record, and had "filled in for important positions such as City Editor."

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Gallant claims, "Defendants' highest ranking managerial agents, officers, and directors decided that the future of the L.A. Times is on-line. Persons, including the editor, had a stereotypical belief that the staff over 40 and particularly over 50 was not capable of adjusting to an online news environment. Plaintiff is informed and believes that Russ Stanton, the current editor of Defendants, actually had a meeting in which he told the young reporters - under 40 and 50 - that their jobs were secure.