Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli, & Brewer is representing ten longtime employees of the California State Automobile Association who filed suit, November 1, 2010, in Contra Costa County Superior Court for what they deem a state wide campaign to get rid of older, longtime sales agents from CSAA’s branch offices and move their jobs to out of state call centers. The ten former employees, with a combined 209 years of service at CSAA, report unfair, discriminatory treatment of older, loyal employees of CSAA in branch offices from Fresno and Clovis to Concord, Antioch, and Oakland, California.
Complaint Against CSAA
The Plaintiffs contend that, California based business, CSAA is diverting jobs away from California sales agents to minimum wage call centers in Oklahoma and Arizona. During our current economic downturn when jobs are important to people and loyalty should be a prized employee commodity, CSAA has targeted senior, high performing insurance sales agents for termination by cutting their commissions and shifting their clients to be serviced by out of state call centers.
Bob Fitzgerald: 26 Years of Service
Plaintiff Bob Fitzgerald, the first named plaintiff in the lawsuit, contends CSAA’s treatment of it’s long time employees is against values of CSAA as a member owned insurance company. Mr. Fitzgerald said:
“It’s very upsetting that a member-owned organization like CSAA would impose a policy of getting rid of longtime, loyal employees like me who have been dedicated to serving CSAA members for over twenty six years.”
Bob Santarini: 39 Years of Service
Plaintiff Bob Santarini worked as a sales representative and was a top-producing agent for CSAA for 39 years. During his tenure at CSAA, Mr. Santarini serviced many of CSAA’s long time members. According to Mr. Santarini, the CSAA work environment changed for the worse when Jim Pouliot took over the company in 2001. The same hostile practices continue to the present under current CEO Paula Downey. Mr. Santarini stated:
” After 39 years and a very successful career filled with helping AAA clients and fellow workers, I was forced to leave my company. It was very sad to watch Mr. Pouliot destroy so many people with unjust and unnecessary termination.”
Gary Gwilliam: Lead Plaintiffs’ Attorney
Gary Gwilliam the Lead Plaintiffs’ attorney succinctly stated:
“We believe CSAA is engaging in a pattern and practice of intentionally getting rid of longtime loyal sales representatives. This kind of conduct should not be tolerated, it’s shameful and it’s illegal.”
McCaskey v. CSAA: Similar Circumstances
On October 29, 2010 in the case of McCaskey v. CSAA, a Santa Clara County Superior Court (Nos. CVO42782 & CVO42793) reversed a summary judgment ruling in favor of three former CSAA employees alleging the same issues of age discrimination against long time loyal sales representatives
Information and Inquiries
For more information, or if you would like to speak to one of our attorneys, please contact Gary Gwilliam (ggwilliam@giccb.com), Randall Strauss (rstrauss@giccb.com), or Jayme Burns (jburns@giccb.com) at (510) 832-5411. Gwilliam, Ivary, Chiosso, Cavalli & Brewer 1999 Harrison St. Ste. 1600, Oakland, CA 94612
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is this a class action suit?
It is a consolidated action, not class action suit.