George FORD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. BERNARD FINESON DEVELOPMENT CENTER, Defendant-Appellee

JACOBS, Circuit Judge:

“Title VII[ ] is a remedial scheme in which laypersons, rather than lawyers, are expected to initiate the process.” EEOC v Commercial Office Prods. Co., 486 U.S. 107, 124, 108 S.Ct. 1666, 1676, 100 L.Ed.2d 96 (1988). Layperson George Ford initiated the process under Title VII and the ADEA, alleging illegal discrimination by his employer. Under the rules governing his ease, Ford had 300 days in which to file a charge with the EEOC. Ford filed his charge on day 281 with New York State’s antidiscrimination agency, which is authorized to act as the EEOC’s agent, and asked…