Class Action Status Granted in New Jersey Discrimination Suit

A New Jersey judge has granted class-action status to an age discrimination lawsuit against Florham Park-based BASF Corporation.

G. Martin Meyers, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, said Wednesday that a judge ruled Jan. 31 that the case can proceed on behalf of all former BASF Corporation employees laid off between January 2002 and June 2007, who were age 40 or over at the time.

Meyers says that applies to about 900 people.

BASF Corporation spokesman Mark Stephenson says the company “categorically denies” engaging in any age discrimination, adding that it may challenge the decision to grant class-action status to the case.

BASF Corporation is the North American affiliate of the German-based chemical company.