83-year-old state employee sues to regain job

RALEIGH — An 83-year-old part-time worker at John Umstead Hospital in Butner is suing to regain her job.

Annie Allen had worked at the hospital 35 years when she was fired six months ago.

Allen says she was told it took her too long to use the bathroom and her 54-year-old supervisor said Allen was too old.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Friday that Allen earned $11.73 an hour folding sheets and pajamas.

She filed a complaint in March claiming she was discriminated against on the basis of age and race. Allen is black and the lawsuit says her supervisor, Annie Hight, is Asian.

Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Tom Lawrence says administrators and Hight can’t talk about the case.

The state’s response says Allen threatened Hight and used abusive language. Allen denies that.

Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)