A long-time employee is taking legal action against his employer, alleging age discrimination and unfair treatment. On September 5, 2024, James Glenn Mao filed a complaint in the Superior Court of California for Ventura County against the County of Ventura.
James Glenn Mao, a Radiologic Technologist at the Ventura County Medical Center, claims he has been subjected to repeated age discrimination by his employer over several years. Represented by attorneys Jake D. Finkel and Eugene Feldman from The Finkel Firm, Mao's lawsuit accuses the County of Ventura of violating the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). According to the complaint, Mao was denied multiple promotions despite being qualified for these positions, with younger and less experienced candidates being chosen instead.
Mao’s allegations are rooted in a series of events that began around August 2022. Despite having over 14 years of experience and consistently performing well in his role, Mao was overlooked for several positions within the Radiology Department. He applied for roles such as Radiologic Specialist II in Interventional Radiology and CAT Scan Staff but was repeatedly passed over in favor of younger colleagues. Mao believes that his age—he is currently 55—was a significant factor in these decisions.
The complaint details specific instances where Mao applied for promotions between August 2022 and April 2024 but was denied each time. For example, on August 15, 2022, he applied for a position as Radiologic Specialist II in Interventional Radiology but did not receive it. Similar denials followed on dates including September 20, 2022, January 8, 2024, and April 9, 2024. These repeated rejections have led Mao to seek redress through the courts.
Mao argues that these actions by the County of Ventura constitute unlawful adverse employment actions motivated by age discrimination. He claims that this discriminatory conduct has caused him substantial economic harm through lost wages and benefits and non-economic damages such as emotional distress and humiliation.
In his lawsuit, Mao seeks general and special damages according to proof presented at trial. He also requests pre-judgment and post-judgment interest on all awarded damages and reasonable attorneys' fees. Additionally, he asks for reimbursement of legal costs incurred during this process.
The case has been assigned Case No.: 2024CU CEOS 0251 in the Superior Court of California for Ventura County. The presiding judge has yet to be named.