Former Sonoma County Commissioner Ted Dejung, 71, has settled a long-standing age discrimination case with the Sonoma County courts, The Press Democrat reports.
Terms were not announced but speculation had it at $250,000 in damages and being a top pick for on-call commissioners.
In the lawsuit, filed in 2006, Dejung claimed he was told by then-presiding Judge Allan Hardcastle that selection committee members "want somebody younger, maybe in their 40s," when he asked about moving from part-time commissioner to a full-time slot.Shortly after the conversation, Dejung said the executive board appointed Larry Ornell, then age 42. Dejung was 64 at the time.
In its 24-page decision, the appellate panel noted that the top three candidates after the interview process were near in age to Dejung at 62, 56 and 50 years old.
"Nevertheless, rather than hiring Dejung or any of these three candidates, the Superior Court chose the (42)-year-old Ornell, the candidate apparently ranked fourth by the interview panel," the opinion reads.
My, my...
