Cardwell v. Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP

**Court Rules Age Discrimination Law Doesn't Protect Job Applicants** A job applicant sued the law firm Davis Polk and Wardwell, claiming they were rejected for employment because of their age. The person argued this violated federal age discrimination laws, specifically claiming the firm's hiring practices had a negative impact on older job seekers. The court dismissed the case, ruling that the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) doesn't protect job applicants from this type of discrimination claim. The judge determined that the specific section of the law the plaintiff relied on only covers current employees, not people applying for jobs. This decision is significant for workers because it limits legal protections for older job seekers. While the ADEA still prohibits employers from directly refusing to hire someone because of their age, this ruling suggests that older applicants cannot use certain legal theories to challenge hiring practices that might indirectly harm their chances of getting hired. Job seekers over 40 may find it harder to challenge hiring decisions in court, even when they believe age played a role in being rejected. Workers should be aware that employment discrimination protections may be stronger once hired than during the application process.