Detje v. James River Paper Corp.

**What Happened** An employee named Detje sued his employer, James River Paper Corp., claiming the company illegally discriminated against him because of his age. Detje argued that the discrimination was intentional and violated federal age discrimination laws. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with Detje. A jury found that James River Paper Corp. had willfully discriminated against him based on his age, which is illegal under federal law. The jury awarded Detje $1,290,760 in damages to compensate him for the harm he suffered. On top of that, the court ordered the company to pay an additional $106,772.50 to cover Detje's attorney fees. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case demonstrates that workers over 40 are protected from age discrimination in the workplace. When employers intentionally discriminate based on age, they can face significant financial consequences - not just paying damages to the worker, but also covering their legal costs. The substantial award shows that courts take age discrimination seriously and will hold companies accountable when they break the law. Workers who experience age discrimination should know they have legal protections and may be entitled to compensation.