Age discrimination lawsuits are on the rise. Compared to the figures of the 1990's, the figures since the year 2006 are staggering. Most of the complaints have been about unfair layoffs. It doesn't matter if it is denial of access to training, promotion, benefits or unfair layoff, it is all illegal if the determining factor is age. Many times, employers target workers aged 40-70 because of the mistaken notion that a layoff will affect them less than their younger coworkers. They also figure they can save money by not having to pay benefits owed the worker. Any of these scenarios could land the employer in a court room facing age discrimination charges. With the numbers rising, it is supposed to peak in the third quarter of 2009 according to Gerald L. Maatman. There is a tremendous wave that has been building, and it isn't done yet. Age discrimination lawsuits are not new, but with the recent economic crunch and more employers laying off workers, some unjustly target the older worker regardless of the fact that they may very well be more skilled than a younger worker. Age should not have anything to do with regards to hiring, benefits, training or being laid off. Yet, many automatically choose the older worker for layoff without even opening the personnel files.