Opinion ID: 2998041
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Age Harassment

Text: Plaintiff’s next claim is that she was harassed on the basis of her age. Again, we note that Racicot does not appear to claim that she was actually terminated due to her age.1 Instead, she complains that Condra and Simpson harassed her by making comments about the propriety of women working at her age and the fact that she could pick up heavy boxes if she were younger. This court has assumed, but never decided, that plaintiffs may bring hostile environment claims under the ADEA. Bennington v. Caterpillar, Inc., 275 F.3d 654, 660 (7th Cir. 2001); Halloway v. Milwaukee County, 180 F.3d 820, 827 (7th Cir. 1999). We need not decide this issue in the instant case because even assuming such a claim to be cognizable, Racicot fails to provide evidence to support such a claim. Condra’s and Simpson’s isolated comments about Racicot’s age were neither severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile work environment. Bennington, 275 F.3d at 660. As with Racicot’s sexual harassment claim, the statements made by Condra and Simpson are examples of boorish behavior but not actionable age harassment. Accordingly, summary judgment was proper on the age harassment claim. 1 The fact that Racicot was replaced by an associate who is older than she prevents her from establishing a prima facie case of age discrimination, regardless. 6 No. 04-2733