Purcell v. Seguin State Bank and Trust Co.

JERRE S. WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge:

In early 1989, Seguin State Bank and Trust Company replaced 60-year-old plaintiff, Walter P. Purcell, as manager of the Bank’s trust department. His replacement was a man 37 years of age; Purcell was 60. Purcell brought suit in federal court, claiming violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Purcell also asserted a state claim of self-compelled defamation. The district court granted the Bank judgment as a matter of law on the defamation claim, and the jury found for…