Saturday, May 18, 2013
Lifeguard fired at 71 settles age-discrimination suit
The Associated Press
Posted: Jun 14, 2012 11:28 AM ET
Last Updated: Jun 14, 2012 11:26 AM ET
Jay Lieberfarb, seen in this photo by Newsday, has settled the age-discrimination lawsuit he launched after he lost his job as a lifeguard. Jessica Rotkiewicz/Newsday
A New York lifeguard who was fired at age 71 has settled an age-discrimination lawsuit for $65,000 US.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission tells Newsday that Jay Lieberfarb had 50 years of experience as a lifeguard when he failed a Nassau County swimming test in 2009. Lieberfarb lives in Valley Stream on Long Island and is now 74.
According to his lawsuit, he failed two swimming tests but was given a second chance. The suit says Lieberfarb passed one test but injured himself before he could take the second test and was told to return with a doctor's note. He was fired before he could provide the note.
The EEOC said younger lifeguards who failed the test were permitted to continue working until they passed it.
© The Canadian Press, 2012
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