Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Watergate at Landmark Condominium

**What happened:** The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Watergate at Landmark Condominium on behalf of Melvina Nozick, a 63-year-old employee who claimed she was discriminated against because of her age. The case went to court to determine whether the condominium violated federal age discrimination laws. **What the court decided:** The jury ruled in favor of Nozick and the EEOC, finding that Watergate had indeed discriminated against her based on her age in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The jury determined that this discrimination was willful, meaning the employer knew it was wrong but did it anyway. The court awarded Nozick back pay (money she lost due to the discrimination) and additional damages called liquidated damages, which are meant to punish employers for intentional violations. **Why this matters for workers:** This case shows that older workers are protected by federal law from age-based discrimination. When employers willfully violate these protections, they can be ordered to pay both lost wages and additional penalties. Workers who believe they've faced age discrimination can file complaints with the EEOC, which may take legal action on their behalf, as happened here.