Real Stories: Jones v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Judy Jones
Jones v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
District of Columbia
Starting in 1974, Judy Jones drove buses and subway trains for the WMATA. After her promotion to a supervisory position in 1984, she was repeatedly denied any further promotions, despite consistently excellent evaluations from her superiors.
Jones then sued WMATA for age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). After filing the lawsuit, WMATA fired her. A jury subsequently decided that WMATA retaliated against Jones for complaining about age discrimination and awarded her $200,000 in damages and job reinstatement.
However, while the case was on appeal, the Supreme Court decided, in Kimel v. Florida Bd. of Regents, that state employees have no right to sue their employers for damages under the ADEA. WMATA successfully argued that it is a "state agency" and therefore Jones, a state employee, could not sue WMATA for damages.
The court agreed and dismissed Jones’ case, leaving a jury’s finding that WMATA discriminated against Jones intact, but stripping Jones of the ability to receive any compensation – or remedy – for the discrimination she suffered.
