Local News in Brief : Fullerton : Age-Discrimination Suit Is Filed by Physician

A doctor who served as medical director for Kimberly-Clark Corp. for 31 years before his dismissal in 1986 charged the company with age discrimination in a suit filed Wednesday.

Dr. Sherman Baker, now 65, seeks $2.5 million in damages and lost earnings in the suit, which contends that he was unfairly terminated because of his age. The suit was filed in Orange County Superior Court by Baker’s attorney, Kenneth Sagroy.

According to the lawsuit, Baker was dismissed in November, 1986, during a time when Kimberly-Clark was offering early-retirement inducements to older employees. However, Baker was a contract employee and was not included in the group eligible to receive those benefits. Baker’s attorney also said officials of Kimberly-Clark, a manufacturer of health care paper products, announced to other employees that Baker had voluntarily retired. Baker was replaced by a 32-year-old physician, according to the suit.

In addition, Baker was entitled under state law to retirement benefits as a longtime contract employee, Sagroy said.