In a recent case, the Ft. Worth Court of Appeals addressed the question, does the Texas age discrimination statute require that the plaintiff be over 40 years old during the discrimination? The court said no. In Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. v. Burnett, 552 S.W.3d 901 (2018), the employee was harassed due to his age. The harassment started while he was still 39 years old. The harassment continued after he turned 40. There was also evidence that a younger employee suffered similar problems at work, but received no discipline. That same younger co-worker attended training which the plaintiff had already requested.

The court found that the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act addresses discrimination “because of age,” not necessarily because the worker is over 40 years old. Mr. Burnett was at least 40 years old when the ultimate act of discrimination occurred, the termination.

The court of appeals also affirmed the lower court’s granting of lost pay in the future. The district court found that reinstatement was not feasible, due to his psychological injuries and because he made a career change after being fired. The appellate court affirmed the district court allowing $565,000 in lost future pay. The district court may have based this amount on his pay at Bell Helicopter during his last few years of employment. See the decision here.