CHARLESTON — A Logan County man and former employee says Gestamp West Virginia for permanently terminating his employment based on his age.
Robert Bryant worked for Gestamp for about four years as a control engineer until March 23, 2020, when he was terminated as part of a reduction in workforce or layoff, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Bryant claims on April 13, 2020, he was rehired at a lower pay rate and on May 8, 2020, he was informed he was being permanently terminated as part of a payoff.
The plaintiff was the oldest of approximately 14 engineers and he had worked as an engineer for longer than most, if not all, of the others, according to the suit.
Bryant claims he maintained a stellar work record and despite his experience being more than most or all of the others, his employment wasn't retained but a number of others who were substantially younger were retained. He claims he always received the highest evaluation scores and attained the highest work product metrics.
The defendant permanently terminated Bryant's employment based on his age in violation of the West Virginia Human Rights Act, according to the suit.
Bryant claims because Gestamp enacted and applied a policy that disparately impacted older employees, including him, in favor of substantially younger employees, it resulted in his termination and violated the WVHRA.
Bryant is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is represented by Richard W. Walters and Ryan W. Walters of Shaffer & Shaffer in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Tera Salango.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 22-C-258