AARP, Law Firm Sue Capital One

The nation’s largest senior citizens lobby and a Virginia law firm have filed an age-discrimination lawsuit against Capital One Financial Corp., saying it fired hundreds of workers because of their age.

AARP and Richmond-based law firm Butler, Williams, Pantele & Skilling allege that the credit card giant fired hundreds of workers 40 and older and uses a performance-based ranking system to justify the firings.

As many as 60 former Capital One employees have stepped forward as plaintiffs, said Harris Butler III of Butler, Williams, Pantele & Skilling.

Butler said he expects a judge to decide within the next four months whether the lawsuit can proceed as a class action.

A Capital One spokesman said the company does not comment on ongoing litigation.

The Falls Church, Va.-based company has said the employees were fired because of poor job performance.

AARP said the ranking system has been used by some other companies to “mask a desire to jettison older workers and other employees, even if they have previously received high ratings.”