Age Bias Claim Likely Merits Trial Against Schneider Electric

Massachusetts’ top court justices seemed to favor a new trial for a 54-year-old man who alleged age discrimination after Schneider Electric USA laid him off.

The case presents an opportunity to weaken a pillar of state employment law that makes it harder for employees to prove discrimination claims. The justices on Wednesday focused on the evidence of bias the employee offered that should allow him to get to a jury.

“There’s a lot of troublesome corporate speak,” including comments about the value of “age diversity,” Justice Scott Kafker said during oral argument. Mark Adams was laid off along with a ...