How Do You Know if You Have a Strong Age Discrimination Case?

 Posted on April 24, 2025 in Discrimination & Retaliation

Discrimination in the workforce is not only illegal; it is also socially frowned upon. Yet one persistent type of discrimination that is arguably the last socially "acceptable" form of discrimination is ageism. However, this does not make it okay, nor does it make it legal. Age discrimination is prohibited by federal law, and there is even a specific law that protects against it called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). If you have been the victim of age discrimination at your place of employment, an experienced Columbia, MD age discrimination employment lawyer can review your case to determine whether you have an age discrimination claim in court. 

What Laws Protect You Against Age Discrimination in Maryland?

First and foremost, the ADEA protects you against age discrimination in favor of younger workers if you work for any private company employing twenty or more people and are over the age of forty. This law prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of age with respect to almost every aspect of employment, including firing, compensation, hiring, promotions, and demotions. 

The Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) also protects workers from age discrimination, as long as they are employed by a company with fifteen or more employees. FEPA is not geared specifically to age discrimination.

How Do You Prove Age Discrimination?

To prove an age discrimination claim, you must show that you are within the protected group, which means you are forty years of age or older if you are suing under federal law, were qualified for the job, met the employer’s reasonable performance expectations, suffered some kind of negative employment action such as being laid off, and would not have suffered this action if you were younger.

What Makes a Strong Age Discrimination Lawsuit?

A strong case for an age discrimination lawsuit usually comes down to evidence. Your employer will usually try to argue that the negative workplace event was unrelated to age but had more to do with performance. For this reason, having strong documentation and testimony showing both a lack of problems with your work performance and instances of discrimination will strengthen your case. Likewise, any evidence showing that younger employees were treated differently will also make for a stronger age discrimination suit.

Call a Columbia, MD Age Discrimination Attorney 

If you have been fired or demoted because of your age, it can be demoralizing and upsetting. It is also against the law. You could have an age discrimination lawsuit on your hands, and the experienced Ellicott City, MD employment law attorney at Freedman Law, LLC can advise you on the strength of your case. Call the office at 410-290-6232 for a consultation.