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By LAUREN ROTH
lroth@leader.net
Friday, March 07, 2003     Page: 9A

SCRANTON One of nine employees of county-owned Valley Crest Nursing Home
fired in March 2000 has sued Luzerne County, alleging age discrimination.
   
Toni Steinson, formerly Toni Koch, states in her suit that all 12 employees
targeted for the employee termination program were over 40 years old. The suit
was filed in United States District Court for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania.
    Steinson, the restorative-nurse director, was 41 at the time of her
termination and had been in that position for 1 1/2 years. The new department
head was about 30 years old. Steinson was not offered any new or comparable
position.
   
Three of the targeted employees ranging from between 48 to 63 years old
were offered new positions at the nursing home. The other nine, who were
terminated, ranged in age from 41 to 65.
   
“The actual reason for the elimination of Plaintiff’s position by Defendant
was Plaintiff’s age,” according to Steinson’s suit. Billing clerk Nancy
Bonczewski also claimed in a lawsuit against the county that age was a factor
in her removal. Bonczewski was 65. Senior Judge Gifford Cappellini ordered in
February that Bonczewski was entitled to retirement benefits.
   
But in Steinson’s resignation agreement, she gave up her right to sue in
exchange for three months of medical coverage, a lump sum payment of $628.84
and accrued benefits worth $2,640.96.
   
“Employee, intending to be legally bound, agrees to remit, release and
forever discharge the County of Luzerne” and related entitles from any
lawsuits or claims. “These specifically include claims under … the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act, claims under the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Act and any and all other federal, state or local statutory claims,”
the agreement states.
   
Steinson declined to comment Thursday night. Her suit asks for wages,
retirement benefits and other benefits due since the date of her termination,
monetary damages and a reinstatement to her former job or additional
compensation.