Alleged age discrimination at a local women’s retail outlet has caused a federal fair employment agency to step in and file suit in federal court.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges that from January 2006 the Fashion Bug treated Angela Ray differently in the terms of discipline and terms and conditions of employment because Ray was older than 50.

Ray was removed from her position as co-manager of the Shorter Avenue store as part of the reported discrimination, the suit stated.

The commission is asking the court to stop alleged age discrimination practices within the company and the parent company Charming Shoppes Inc.

Charming Shoppes Inc. owns other women’s clothing stores such as Lane Bryant and Catherines.

The EEOC has not outlined a specific sum, but requested the court require the store chain to pay appropriate back wages and other damages as well as award the commission the cost of pursuing the lawsuit.

A company spokesman for Charming Shoppes Inc. declined to comment citing pending litigation

Rome News Tribune