Carpenter v. Central Vermont Medical Center

Plaintiff appeals from a decision granting judgment for defendant on claims of age discrimination and retaliation. At a bench trial, the trial court held plaintiff to a higher standard of proof than is required for the prima facie case and therefore erred in applying the burden-shifting framework for employment discrimination claims. We reverse for this reason, but affirm the other challenged rulings by the trial court.

Plaintiff was hired by Central Vermont Hospital in 1984. He worked as a custodian for ten years, eventually moving to the Woodridge Nursing Home, operated by defendant Central…