AT&T salesman claims supervisor called him 'the little engine that could'

An AT&T salesman has filed an age discrimination lawsuit against his former employer after allegedly being hit with a rolled-up newspaper for his mistakes and for being told he was "the little engine that could."

Craig Carrick filed suit against AT&T Aug. 31 in federal court in New Orleans.

Carrick was hired in 2005 as a sales representative and claims he was denied promotions due to his age. He states throughout his training he was singled out from his peers because of his age.

Further, Carrick states his supervisor told another employee to strike Carrick in the head and body with a rolled-up newspaper whenever he felt Carrick was making a mistake. The sales representative states that no other employees were hit with newspapers.

According to the complaint, Carrick was placed under a new supervisor in January 2008 who would refer to him as "the little engine that could." He states it was ultimately this supervisor that orchestrated his termination in May 2008. Carrick was 56-years-old at the time of his termination.

The St. Tammany Parish resident accuses his former employer of subjecting him to discrete discriminatory acts and for creating a hostile work environment in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act.

Carrick is asking for more than $1 million in damages for back pay, front pay in lieu of reinstatement, lost benefits, punitive damages, costs, interest and compensatory damages for insurance and health care cost.

Carrick is represented by Stephen J. Gernhauser in New Orleans. A jury trial is requested.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier is assigned to the litigation.

Case No. 2:10cv02862