Local
JEA sued by former communications vice president over 2024 job elimination
Mark Stultz says JEA discriminated against him because of his age when it eliminated his vice president position and did not place him in another role. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Jacksonville, seeks financial damages and reinstatement or front pay.
A former JEA vice president has sued the Jacksonville utility, alleging it eliminated his job because of his age and treated younger executives more favorably during a management restructuring.
Mark Stultz filed the complaint Oct. 16 in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville. He accuses JEA of violating the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Stultz joined JEA in January 2022 as vice president of communications. According to the complaint, the utility told him in July 2024 that his position was being eliminated and his employment would end Aug. 9. He was older than 40 and among JEA’s oldest vice presidents, the lawsuit says.
The utility said it was reducing the number of vice president positions, according to the complaint. Stultz alleges that younger vice presidents whose jobs were eliminated were moved into other positions, while he was not offered a continuing role. He also says communications work he had handled continued under a younger employee.
Stultz’s most recent completed annual performance review rated him “exceeds expectations,” the complaint says, and JEA did not identify performance problems as a reason for ending his employment.
He is seeking back pay and benefits, damages, and either reinstatement or front pay. He has also requested a jury trial. The complaint does not establish that JEA discriminated against him.