NEW ORLEANS - A former CEO as filed a lawsuit against his employer claiming he was terminated in retaliation for protesting the company's plans to get rid of older employees.
Craig B. Schneider filed suit against Gulf Industries on Feb. 2 in federal court in New Orleans.
Schneider claims he worked for the defendant for approximately 27 years. At the time of his termination, he was 54 years old and was the chief executive of Gulf Industries.
The defendant is accused of implementing a systematic plan to terminate, convince to retire or convert from regular employees to contract workers in an effort to save money from its self-insured medical plan. Schneider states that older employees were simply terminated due to discriminatory actions.
The defendant is also accused of manipulating the employees' work hours to under 35 hours per week to avoid having to provide medical coverage. Schneider states that he was against these plans and as a result, he was terminated on May 24, 2011.
The defendant is accused of violating the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Louisiana age discrimination law and the Whistleblower Act.
The plaintiff is asking the court to permanently restrain the defendant from continued unlawful practices and for an award of damages for lost earnings, interest, lost benefits, pain and
suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of reputation, embarrassment, humiliation, liquidated damages and attorney's fees.
Schneider is represented by New Orleans attorneys James L. Arruebarrena and Rachel Martin-Deckelman. A jury trial is requested.
U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:12-cv-00342