Jury Finds Wisconsin Auto Parts Seller Guilty of Age Discrimination

June 15, 2021

An internet-based auto parts seller in Madison, Wisconsin, violated federal law when it failed to hire a qualified job applicant because of his age, a jury has found.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said the jury found RockAuto guilty of age discrimination in hiring.

According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, the applicant, Glenn McKewen, applied for a position as a supply chain manager at the company’s Madison headquarters in 2016. McKewen had years of relevant experience as well as relevant bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

RockAuto, after receiving McKewen’s application, emailed him to ask in what year he received his undergraduate degree. When McKewen revealed a graduation year more than 20 years prior to his application, RockAuto rejected him the next day.

RockAuto, however, passed other, significantly younger applicants who lacked McKewen’s experience and credentials through its interview and hiring process, the EEOC charged.

Such alleged conduct violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The EEOC filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.

After a two-day trial, the jury found in favor of the EEOC. Damages for McKewen are to be determined by the court at a later date.

The case was tried for the EEOC by Leslie Carter and Elizabeth Banaszak.

Source: EEOC

Topics Auto Wisconsin

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