LISBON - A Salem woman who worked more than 38 years at a plastics factory now known as Ventra Salem before being fired last year filed a lawsuit alleging age discrimination.

Jean Long, who resides at 468 Columbia St., filed the complaint in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court against Ventra Salem, 800 Pennsylvania Ave., Salem, and Community Insurance Company doing business as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company produces plastic molded parts for the auto industry.

According to the lawsuit, Long started working at the plant as an operator on Oct. 24, 1969 when it was known as Warren Molded Plastics and remained when the plant became Blackhawk Automotive Plastics and then Ventra.

In the middle of her shift on March 18, 2008, she said she met with the head of quality control and the quality control manager and was advised her employment in the quality control department was terminated.

The lawsuit document alleged she said they "...offered to pay her hourly wage for the rest of the shift, and denied her any further group health plan coverage or COBRA coverage because she was 'too old.'"

The lawsuit said she was the second most senior employee of the 15 employees in the department.

The complaint included counts alleging wrongful discrimination based on age, violation of public policy based on age discrimination and civil violations against Ventra and the insurance company related to their failure to notify her of her rights related to continuation of health insurance coverage.

The lawsuit didn't mention Long's age, but said she was over the age of 40, alleging that made her a member of a protected class.

She asked for damages in excess of $25,000, reinstatement to her job and benefits, attorney fees and $100 per day for the insurance company's failure to notify her of insurance continuation rights and $100 per day for Ventra's failure to notify her of insurance continuation rights.

The case was assigned to Judge C. Ashley Pike.

Mary Ann Greier can be reached at mgreier@salemnews.net