Man accuses Bayer of age discrimination

WINFIELD – A Putnam County man is suing over claims he was fired based upon his age.

James Milton Young filed a lawsuit Dec. 5 in Putnam Circuit Court against Bayer CropScience, citing age discrimination.

According to the complaint, Young was hired by the defendant in 1984 and worked as a chemical plant operator and shift supervisor at a chemical manufacturing facility in Institute until this year.

Young says as of Jan. 1, 2013, he was one of the oldest, most tenured supervisors in his production group, making him eligible for the defendant's voluntary separation program which would permit him to retire with a benefits package and two weeks of regular pay for each of his years in service.

The complaint states Young applied for the program but was rejected on Jan. 17, 2013, so he continued working until May 5 of this year when he received a letter that he had been terminated.

The plaintiff, who was 59 at the time of termination, accuses Bayer CropScience of age discrimination for firing the plaintiff based upon his age.

Young seeks damages, back pay and benefits, front pay or reinstatement, interest, costs and attorney fees.

He is represented by attorneys Thomas H. Peyton and Harvey D. Peyton of Peyton Law Firm in Nitro. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Joseph Reeder.

Putnam Circuit Court case number: 14-C-287