Firm launches age discrimination case against bookseller Barnes & Noble

Nov. 21, 2019 – The firm today filed a class action complaint in San Francisco federal court for age discrimination against Barnes & Noble, one of the nation’s largest booksellers, on behalf of client Barbara Tavres and other former B&N employees age 40 and older. The complaint alleges that B&N engaged in a widespread campaign of age discrimination by discharging its employees age 40 and over in violation of California and federal law. The company, which in recent years has experienced difficulties, has decided to revamp its “stale” public persona to stay relevant and to entice new customers into its stores. As its new CEO stated publicly this year: “Chain stores are exciting when they are shiny and new. But they don’t age well.” To achieve the desired look, the complaint alleges, B&N decided that its older employees no longer looked the part and began a ruthless purging of those employees. As one management level employee informed workers: “Look, we’re no longer hiring book people. Going forward, we’re only hiring sales people.” Further proceedings in the matter are pending. The firm continues to investigate similar claims of age discrimination and encourages anyone with information about or experience with age discrimination at Barnes & Noble to contact us.