Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Marion Motel Associates, A/K/A Park Inn International

**The Dispute** The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Marion Motel Associates (operating as Park Inn International) on behalf of two employees, Aileen Peterson and Effie Peterson. The EEOC claimed the motel fired both women simply because of their ages, which violates federal age discrimination laws that protect workers 40 years old and older. **The Court's Decision** A jury found that Park Inn International deliberately violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) when it fired the two employees because of their ages. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision and confirmed the motel must pay back wages to cover what the women would have earned if they hadn't been illegally fired. The court also awarded additional "liquidated damages" as punishment for the employer's willful discrimination. **What This Means for Workers** This ruling reinforces that employers cannot fire workers simply because they think they're "too old." Workers 40 and older have strong legal protections against age discrimination. When employers deliberately violate these laws, they face serious financial consequences - not just paying back wages, but additional penalty damages. This case shows that age discrimination claims can succeed in court when there's evidence the firing was based on age rather than job performance.