Spirit AeroSystems Defeats Class Age Bias Claims in Layoff Suit

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. beat collective action age bias claims brought by employees laid off as a result of its 2013 reduction-in-force.

The terminated workers failed to provide sufficient evidence that Spirit’s rating alteration, bell curve rating system, or decision to not rehire laid-off workers were motivated by age-based animus, the US District Court for the District of Kansas ruled Tuesday. The ex-workers’ individual age bias claims remain pending.

Spirit laid off 271 employees from its Wichita, Kan., manufacturing facility in 2013, where it employed more than 4,000 workers after taking on a $590 million write-down the previous year, according ...