NEW ORLEANS -- A man claims to have suffered intentional age discrimination on the basis of national origin by a former employer.
Atul Pachori filed a claim on May 10, 2021 in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana against Nippon Kaiji Kyokai Corporation (ClassNK) under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.
According to the complaint, Pachori began employment at ClassNK on April 1, 2001, as a Senior Surveyor for vessels in Miami, where he opened and managed ClassNK’s branch office for 12 years before being transferred to the New Orleans office on December 1, 2013.
Pachori alleged that in 2019, a report went out stating the New Orleans office did not have enough employees and the work load would increase for current employees due to environmental changes. Also in 2019, Pachori alleged that ClassNK forced C. Ron Riemer, the same age as Pachori, to resign, and was replaced with a younger employee.
Pachori alleges that on January 16, 2020, he was notified in letter from Stewart Saedong Lee, the Country Manager for ClassNK over U.S. operations, that he was terminated, effective December 31, 2020. Pachori sent an email to Mr. Lee asking to rescind the termination notice, which was denied, the lawsuit says.
Pachori alleged that he questioned the termination notice and was advised by A. Naruse, from the ClassNK Human Resources Department, that his termination “is the result of our recent consideration between Head office and Country Manager.” Pachori alleged that his March 2019 Annual Performance Review was fully satisfactory, and he wrote Mr. Lee again in June asking for the termination to be reconsidered by Pachori's employer had already begun seeking his replacement.
Pachori filed a charge of discrimination on the basis of age and national origin with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on September 23, 2020, and received a right to sue notice issued April 28, 2021, authorizing him to bring a private suit against ClassNK.
Atul Pachori seeks compensation for loss of past and future lost wages and fringe benefits, including back pay and front pay, lost promotional opportunities, lost career advancement opportunities, emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, damage to reputation, expenses finding further employment. Pachori is represented by Daniel A. Meyer of Bruno and Bruno, L.L.P.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:21-cv-00925-NJB-DMD