The Minneapolis District Office brought this action in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, against Independent School District No. 194 of Lakeville MN. The complaint, filed in September 2005, alleged age discrimination in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. Specifically, the complaint alleged Defendant discriminated against the class members by paying an early retirement incentive cash benefit and retiree health insurance premium benefits which had been reduced because of age. Teachers were eligible for benefits at age fifty-five, with twenty years of service, and the benefits were reduced with the employee's age, with retiring employees receiving 100% of benefits at age fifty-five and losing 5% for each additional year the employee waited to retire.

Almost concurrent with the complaint, parties jointly submitted a proposed consent decree, which the Court signed five days later. The decree, which was valid for 5 years, included non-discrimination and non-retaliation provisions and, in addition, provided for posting of a non-discrimination notice and monitoring of Defendant's compliance by the EEOC. Defendant also agreed to pay a total of $47,195.54 to the class members, including $33,141 in back pay and $14,054.30 in interest.

Shankar Viswanathan - 06/05/2007


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