Feds sue auto dealer over age discrimination

A Yakima used-car dealership is being sued by the federal government for allegedly firing two salesmen because of their ages.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court against Portland-based West One Automotive Group Inc., owner of the Hertz rental and used-car dealership in Yakima.

Lawyers for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allege the firing of salesmen Glen Epperson and Dennis Fewel in May 2006 was the result of age discrimination.

The EEOC alleged Epperson, then 55, and Fewel, 60, were "top performers" who nonetheless were subjected to a "barrage of ageist comments" by sales manager Michael Mayer.

The agency said Mayer later fired the salesmen and replaced them with employees half their age after he was promoted to general manager.

The EEOC further alleged that Epperson's firing also was the result of a pattern of retaliation for helping a female co-worker file an internal sexual harassment claim.

"Retaliatory acts included an attempt to divert part of Epperson's sales commission to another salesperson, taking away his demo car of choice and refusing to promote him to a vacant sales manager position," the EEOC said in a news release.

The agency said it sued West One Auto Group after attempting to reach an out-of-court settlement failed.

Calls to the Yakima Hertz dealership and West One company headquarters were not returned.