Former brokerage VP suing for sex, age discrimination

A former senior vice president at a Chicago investment firm's Indianapolis office is suing the company, charging sexual and age discrimination.

Attorneys for Dana Hurst say in a Dec. 20 court filing that David A. Noyes & Co. fired her in retaliation for complaining that the company violated rights guaranteed to her in the Civil Rights Act and the Equal Pay Act.

The lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana in Indianapolis, describes Hurst as “female and over the age of 40.” She worked for the investment brokerage from March 1985 to November 2011. Along with being a senior vice president, she managed the company’s corporate syndicate department.

The lawsuit does not specify how much Hurst was earning or what the difference was between her pay and her male co-workers'.

Hurst's attorneys from John H. Haskin & Associates in Indianapolis claim the brokerage was taking away her work and giving it to male employees with less experience and fewer qualifications. In addition, Hurst said she didn't receive pay increases or year-end bonuses during the last 15 years at the job.

“Conversely, similarly situated male employees were routinely provided salary increases, year-end bonuses, and higher commissions when compared to [Hurst] despite these males performing substantially equal work under similar working conditions,” the lawsuit said.

Hurst complained to the company on Nov. 8, 2011, that she felt she was being treating unfairly and said she would file a formal complaint. She was fired later that day, the lawsuit states.

The filing also alleges the company allowed younger and male employees to keep their jobs despite “behavior which would warrant termination.”

Hurst’s attorneys and representatives from David A. Noyes & Co. could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday. Noyes is the 14th largest Indianapolis-area investment brokerage firm, with 34 local licensed brokers, according to IBJ records.

Hurst is seeking lost wages, unpaid bonuses, benefits, and compensation for other financial losses and attorney fees. She also requests either reinstatement or pay and benefits in lieu of returning to her former position and salary.