CLEVELAND — Davis Automotive Group Inc. violated federal law by intentionally subjecting older workers at BMW Cleveland to age discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged in a lawsuit filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio’s Eastern Divi­sion.

According to the suit, the Solon, Ohio, dealership discriminated against a former employee by refusing to rehire her because of her age (52) and for terminating two sales employees because of their ages (67 and 70).

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As a result of these practices, officials say, the company violated the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits age discrimination in employment against people age 40 or older, according to the lawsuit.

The charging documents note the EEOC attempted to reach a settlement before moving forward with the lawsuit, which seeks monetary relief, including back pay and liquidated damages, for the three former employees.

“Failing to employ and discharging qualified people because of their age is not only unfair, it is against the law.”

The suit also seeks injunctive relief to prevent future age discrimination, including an order to institute policies, practices, and procedures that conform to the requirements of federal law.

“Failing to employ and discharging qualified people because of their age is not only unfair, it is against the law,” said Debra Lawrence, regional attorney for EEOC’s Philadelphia District Office. “We will continue to combat these abhorrent employment practices that violate federal law as well as common justice.”

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