EEOC sues Seasons 52, claiming age discrimination

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – The federal agency that enforces job discrimination laws has filed a lawsuit against Seasons 52, claiming the fine dining restaurant chain discriminated based on age.

The lawsuit filed Thursday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims the Darden-owned chain failed to hire servers, hosts and bartenders who were 40 years old or older at the chain’s new restaurant.

A Darden spokesman denied the allegations and said the company will vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.

Spokesman Rich Jeffers says the company investigated the allegations when they surfaced four years ago, and they were unsubstantiated.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Miami.

The EEOC says it is seeking money for applicants denied a job because of their age and training at the restaurant chain on discrimination.