Fired Mitsubishi Employee Loses Age Bias Lawsuit

An Orange County Superior Court Jury on Thursday rejected an age discrimination lawsuit filed by an employee who said he was fired by Mitsubishi Electronics America Inc. because he is older than 40.

After deliberating for four hours, jurors decided there was not enough evidence to support allegations by George O’Mary, 58, of Sierra Madre.

O’Mary accused the Japanese-owned Mitsubishi of singling out older managers when the company fired him and 38 other people at its Cypress-based computer business in November, 1990.

Attorneys for Mitsubishi said the firings were simple economics--losses from a computer-selling venture had forced the company to reduce its work force.

“I am very happy that the jury looked at the facts and did not give a knee-jerk verdict in favor of the individual against the corporation,” said attorney Barclay Edmondson, who represented Mitsubishi.

O’Mary had sought $620,000 in lost wages and compensation for emotional distress.