BELLEVILLE - A former Canteen Township worker claims he was discriminated against and terminated from his position with the highway department due to his age.
In the lawsuit was filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court by plaintiff Montgomery Rodgers against Canteen Township. He claims he was hired on Sept. 30, 2019, at age 75 as a laborer in the township's highway department.
He was allegedly fired in June 2020 for "lack of funds."
"Plaintiff was the only employee of defendant who was terminated due to alleged 'lack of funds,'" the suit states.
Then in November 2020, the township allegedly hired two additional workers who performed the same work as Rodgers.
"Defendant's termination of plaintiff was due to plaintiff's age," the suit states.
Rodgers filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which investigated and allegedly issued a 'right to sue letter.'
Rodgers is seeking damages of more than $50,000, plus pre- and post-judgment interest and court costs. He also seeks punitive damages.
"The conduct of defendant was sufficiently culpable to warrant an award of punitive damages in that it was outrageous because of evil motive and/or reckless indifference to the rights of others, including plaintiff," the suit states.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Ryan Jurgiel of Hughes Lawyers LLC in St. Louis.
Montgomery Rodgers v. Canteen Township, St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LAO48