Kanbar settles age discrimination suit for $140K
By KYLE ARNOLD World Business Writer on Sep 4, 2013, at 1:23 PM Updated on 9/04/13 at 1:26 PM
Real Estate
U.S. homebuilders' confidence in the housing market held this month at its highest level in nearly eight years. But builders are starting to worry that sales may slow if mortgage rates continue to rise.
New home construction in the Tulsa region from January to August is outpacing last year's numbers, a continuation of the upward tick that started in 2012 following a six-year slide.
A woman who claimed that she was fired from Kanbar Property Management because she was too old at 53 will get $140,000 as part of a settlement with the downtown Tulsa commercial property firm.
The age discrimination lawsuit from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged a former Kanbar Property executive with firing an employee because he wanted “younger and prettier” property managers.
The suit claimed that former Kanbar Property chief operating officer, Suhki Ghuman, fired property manager Toni Strength, 53 at the time, and replaced her with two younger female property managers, aged 39 and 23. Ghuman is now owner and CEO of Octavian USA, a security firm that works with Kanbar and other downtown Tulsa property owners.
Per the terms of the settlement, Kanbar Property must also develop a new anti-discrimination policy, with proof that the company is fair to employees over 40 years old.
Kanbar Property Management controls more than 30 percent of downtown real estate and owns 15 buildings in the area. The company is the property arm of California business mogul Maurice Kanbar.
The $140,000 settlement will be paid to Strength to cover lost wages and damages. The company must pay that sum within 15 days, according to court records.
Real Estate
U.S. homebuilders' confidence in the housing market held this month at its highest level in nearly eight years. But builders are starting to worry that sales may slow if mortgage rates continue to rise.
New home construction in the Tulsa region from January to August is outpacing last year's numbers, a continuation of the upward tick that started in 2012 following a six-year slide.
