Ruby Tuesday agrees to $575K settlement

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday Inc. is paying $575,000 to settle a federal age-discrimination lawsuit over five locations in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement today. The EEOC had alleged that the company engaged in age discrimination against job applicants 40 years of age or older. Ruby Tuesday is based in Maryville, Tenn., and it strongly denied wrongdoing in the case.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit in 2009. The restaurants were located in West Mifflin, Greensburg, Altoona, Du Bois, and Indiana, Pa., and in Beachwood, Ohio.

EEOC attorney Debra M. Lawrence says they’re pleased Ruby Tuesday agreed to work on a comprehensive settlement.

Ruby Tuesday says it settled the lawsuit to reduce business disruption and avoid litigation costs.