Google: Age Bias Lawsuit From Former 50-ish Executive Can Continue

A state appeals court in San Jose ruled Thursday that a former Google executive in his 50s who was allegedly called "old fuddy-duddy" and told he was "slow" before being terminated in February 2004 has the right to sue the Internet giant for age discrimination.

A unanimous opinion by a three-judge panel stated that a state Superior Court judge had "clearly erred" in dismissing the case brought by Brian Reid, formerly Google's director of engineering, before trial.

"We conclude that Reid produced sufficient evidence that Google's reasons for terminating him were untrue or pretextual," the opinion stated, noting that a fact finder could conclude that Google engaged in age discrimination.