A national collective action has been filed in Georgia against IKKA Technology, Inc. The action is brought on behalf of all managers, aged 50 and older, who have been terminated by the company as a result of corporate re-structuring. The action is brought under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and seeks back pay and front pay, liquidated damages, statutory and compensatory damages as well as injunctive and declaratory relief. As a collective action, all potential claimants must voluntarily "opt-in" to the case in order to be considered a member of the class. The managers have requested that the court issue notice to all potential claimants in an effort to inform them of the pending action.

According to the managers, IKKA went through a corporate re-structuring in January 2003. As part of this re-structuring, the managers claim that all managerial personnel over the age of 50 were purged in an effort to pass the reigns of the company to younger individuals. The managers assert that inter-office e-mail, which they have attached to their complaint, supports their contention that they were laid off in an effort to replace older employees. Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, it is unlawful to deprive anyone of equal employment opportunities, wages, retirement and other benefits, or to deny anyone of equal treatment in the terms and conditions of their employment based on age. The managers claim that IKKA's actions fit squarely within the conduct the act intended to prevent. Additionally, where such conduct was willful, the parties discriminated against are entitled to liquidated damages, which the managers have requested in this matter.