Lawsuit alleges Yakima employee was fired for old age

  • Associated Presss
  • Thursday, May 26, 2016 8:32am
  • Business

YAKIMA — A 64-year-old man has filed a $1 million lawsuit alleging he was fired by the city of Yakima because of his age and related salary incentives.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that Doug Mayo’s suit claims former City Manager Tony O’Rourke told him he was being fired as city engineer in June 2013 for economic reasons but then gave raises to other employees.

Mayo also points to messages exchanged between former utilities/engineering manager Debbie Cook and assistant city attorney Jim Mitchell. The suit alleges one message said Mayo was being terminated because he was “old” and “feeble.”

O’Rourke said in an email Wednesday that Mayo resigned from the position and wasn’t terminated.

The city declined to comment on pending litigation.

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