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Former Star columnist’s lawsuit set for trial

IBJ Staff
January 6, 2012
Keywords
Indianapolis Star, Law, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Media & Marketing, Newspapers, Publishing, Trial
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An age-discrimination lawsuit brought by a former columnist for The Indianapolis Star is set to go to trial in April after a federal judge rejected the newspaper’s attempt to dismiss her complaint.

Susan G. Guyett, 63, sued the Star and its owner, Virginia-based Gannett Co., in April 2010, alleging that her age led to her dismissal in December 2008.

Guyett wrote the “Talk of Our Town” column. She charges in her suit that the content and concept of the column remained the same after it was assigned to a younger reporter.

The newspaper filed a motion to dismiss the suit, which Judge Richard L. Young denied late last month.

A jury trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. April 24 at the federal courthouse in downtown Indianapolis.
 


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  • more than money
    rickJanuary 8, 2012 5:38 PM
    These things are usually about more than money. It seems almost every business wants younger employees. The Indy Star is desperate to attract younger readers, and they likely believed a younger reporter would help do that. In truth though, their audience IS older, and a move like this is likely to turn off their most loyal readers, not attract younger ones.
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  • Age and the Workplace
    TerryJanuary 7, 2012 9:14 AM
    I hope the Star's legal team planned ahead, because this will be a trial that many employers will be watching. Rather than assign the column to a younger employee, obviously paid less than Susan, a redesign of the column's focus might have been a better move. As the economy turned downward, beginning in 2007, many companies elected to use the opportunity to release older, higher paid employees, and this type of lawsuit will be heard nationally over the next few years. They better pack the jury with young, out of work college graduates, because an elderly juror will not appreciate the release of an employee, age 63, because the bottom line needed to be improved.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Hope the jury discovers truth
    AnonymousJanuary 6, 2012 3:11 PM
    I hope that the paper did not let her go due to her age, as that would be wrong. However, I think that it was time for her to retire anyway. I felt her column was more about writing about her well-connected local friends than actually reporting on important social events in the city, i.e. if you were not in her circle, she did not cover or write about your event.
    In any case, here's hoping that the jury finds out the true facts and that whatever the appropriate justice is, it is served accordingly.
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment
  • Go Girl!!
    GgalJanuary 6, 2012 2:13 PM
    Susan did a great job reporting the local social scene. Kathy K is good but someone has to stand up for the over 40+ crowd. You go Girl!!
    Reply to CommentFlag Comment

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