SAN FRANCISCO -- An older lawsuit against Home Depot that alleges age discrimination and retaliation has been transferred to federal court.
Ruth Hillard filed a complaint in 2019 in Placer County Superior Court against Home Depot U.S.A for violation of public policy - age discrimination, gender discrimination and retaliation in violation of FEHA, and the company removed it to federal court on July 2.
According to the complaint, Hillard worked at Home Depot for more than 29 years, but was abruptly terminated for being nine minutes tardy on October 31, 2017. Hillard alleges before that, her talents and excellent work efforts were immediately recognized by Home Depot peers and management.
Many of her yearly performance reviews designated her an outstanding employee, she says. Over the years at Home Depot, Hillard earned multiple promotions and increased responsibilities based upon her excellent performance, she says.
But beginning in 2017, her store manager began falsely, unfairly and improperly accusing her of poor performance following her complaints to management about negative treatment her and other older women were experiencing at work, she says. Hillard alleges that her and other female employees started to be written up for minor infractions that male employees could get away with. Hillard alleges she was wrongfully terminated and punished for her report of the unfair treatment.
Hillard seeks past and future general and special damages, past and future loss of earnings and earning capacity, punitive damages, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Hillard is represented by Thomas Marc Litton.
Superior Court of the State of California County of Placer case number 3:21-cv-05124