Aug 12, 2016 2 min read

A Spraggs man filed a federal lawsuit claiming age discrimination against Halliburton Energy Service after the company did not offer him a job at a new facility upon closing its Cumberland Township station last year.

A lawyer for Rick D. Crites filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court in Pittsburgh that claims the 50 employees working at the office along Route 21 near Carmichaels would be offered jobs elsewhere after it was announced in February 2015 the location would be closed.

The lawsuit claims Crites, who worked for Houston-based Halliburton since 1981 and transferred to the Cumberland Township office seven years ago, would be offered a similar job as an equipment maintenance foreman in Zanesville, Ohio.

Two other employees, both of whom are 30 years younger than him and have less experience, were offered positions instead, the lawsuit claims. His position was terminated and Crites was escorted from the building, the lawsuit claims.

His Morgantown-based attorney, Jeremy Donham, said Crites had an “above average” performance record and blamed the dismissal on his age.

“I think it’s something we have to try to figure out,” Donham said. “It looks like they moved a lot of workers to Zanesville and he wasn’t included, but a lot of the younger workers were.”

Crites is seeking $75,000 for lost wages.

A representative for Halliburton could not be reached for comment on the lawsuit.