$5.4 Million Lawsuit Being Filed Against Verizon Wireless

A $5.4 million dollar lawsuit is being filed against Verizon Wireless for alleged discrimination, violation of equal pay laws, and breach of contract against Roderick Williams, a former supervisor at Verizon Wireless’ Business Support Center in Hanover, Maryland. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) October 08, 2007 - Gaithersburg, Maryland, — A $5.4 million dollar lawsuit is being filed against Verizon Wireless for alleged discrimination, violation of equal pay laws, and breach of contract against Roderick Williams, a former supervisor at Verizon Wireless’ Business Support Center in Hanover, Maryland.

Williams alleges he was discriminated against by Verizon Wireless due to his non-selection for an Associate Director position in January 2007 because of his gender, race and perceived sexual orientation which violate federal and state discrimination laws.

Williams states he was performing the responsibilities of a Supervisor, Trainer, Project Consultant, Reporting Analyst and Associate Director yet his salary was only equivalent to other supervisors performing less responsibilities.

In the lawsuit, Verizon Wireless allegedly failed to provide equal pay to Williams for his functions performed equivalent to other Verizon Wireless Associate Directors in Verizon Wireless’ Hanover, Maryland Business Support Center.

Williams resigned in July 2007 as he was not provided a performance agreement in January 2007 which according to Verizon Wireless policy is to be given to all employees at the beginning of every year thus allegedly breaching contract with Williams as a Verizon Wireless employee.

During the two week notice period given by Williams in his resignation letter, Verizon Wireless offered to change Williams’ title from Supervisor to Consultant although he was performing the functions of a supervisor for four of the first six months of 2007.

Roderick Williams worked for Verizon Wireless as a full time employee from March 2001 to July 2007. During his tenure, Williams’ annual performance evaluations indicate he consistently met or exceeded company standards.

Williams’ work performance had been awarded multiple times by Verizon Wireless including Employee of the Year for 2002 at Verizon Wireless’ National Accounts Customer Service Center in Folsom, California. Williams’ latest award was a Director’s Award presented to him in January 2007 for his work contributions at the Verizon Wireless Business Support Center in Hanover, Maryland.

$5 million of the $5.4 million lawsuit is for punitive damages against Verizon Wireless. The remainder is for alleged violation of equal pay laws and breach of contract.

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