Cop loses age discriminat claim against City of Saginaw

Joseph Dervisi, age 37, had spent four years in the Air Force security police, was a security worker at Dow Chemical for 10 years and spent one year as a hotel security guard, before being selected for the Saginaw Police Department's Police Academy scholarship. He and a 22-year old ranked highest in qualifying for the scholarship and Provisional employment appointment. During the 17-week police academy, however, Dervisi apparently did not treat the instructors with the respect that felt he should accord them, and they recommended that he be terminated for lack of the proper attitude. Dervisi was discharged and filed suit alleging age discrimination. He argued that he was let go solely because of his age, but the Court held that he hadn't presented adequate evidence--either direct or indirect--of age discrimination.