FORMER LLNL DIRECTOR MILLER TESTIFYING IN LAB AGE DISCRIMINATION CASE

Former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director George Miller began testifying yesterday in the second phase of an age discrimination lawsuit filed by dozens of former lab employees, and he is expected to continue to testify for most of today in Alameda County (Calif.) Superior Court. Miller was questioned by Gary Gwilliam, a lawyer representing five workers that have alleged they were victims of age discrimination during a 2008 layoff of 440 lab employees. The five workers represent a “test case” out of the group of 130 former lab workers that are suing contractor Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, in connection with the 2008 layoff. They already were awarded $2.7 million earlier this year in a breach of contract case, and the second phase of the trial will deal with the employees’ age discrimination claims. The trial began in early November and is expected to last until before Christmas. Miller is the most high profile lab official to testify in the case. He also testified in the first case.