Ex-United Way Executive Sues Over Her Dismissal

A former executive at United Way of Greater Mercer County has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was fired because of her age and disability.

Eta Yager, 61, had worked at the charity for 18 1/2 years, eventually becoming assistant vice president in resource development, according to the suit.

In her lawsuit, filed last week in Superior Court, Yager alleged the charity discriminated against her when she was passed over for a promotion to vice president in favor of a younger man with less seniority.

According to the suit, Yager, of Levittown, Pa., contends that she trained the younger employee, that he became her supervisor, that he was "unable to perform all the du ties expected of vice president," and that she performed those functions instead.

She alleged in the suit that she sought medical help for stress and depression and was taking medication. She also alleged that in the summer of 2005 she was asked to do the work of another person who had resigned but that she received no additional training and received no additional compensation.

Yager alleged in the suit that in January she was ill and feeling dizzy due to an ear infection, and at one point she confided to another employee that she was de pressed. One day in January, according to the suit, Yager called in sick and spoke to the executive assistant for Craig Lafferty, the president and CEO of Mercer United Way.

Lafferty allegedly mentioned Yager's depression at a staff meet ing in front of other employees, the suit said.

He fired her the next day in "a very degrading manner," in the presence of another employee, the suit said. Lafferty could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Yager, who was paid $51,000 per year, was 1 1/2 years from age 62 when she was fired. If she had worked until 62 she would have been able to take early retirement, the suit said. She is seeking damages, costs and attorney's fees.

Lawyer Kimberly Gandy Jinks, who filed the lawsuit for Yager, declined to discuss it.

Linda Stein can be reached at lstein@njtimes.com or (609) 989-6437.