Jefferson County Judge Grants Conditional Certification in Age Discrimination Lawsuit Against Central Alabama Water
Court ruling allows additional workers age 40 and older affected by March 2026 layoffs to join collective legal action
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge has granted conditional certification in an age discrimination lawsuit against Central Alabama Water (CAW). The ruling allows employees age 40 and older who were affected by the utility’s workforce reduction to join the ongoing legal action. The September 9, 2026, order, issued by Circuit Judge Chuck Price, allows the case brought by former Central Alabama Water employee Nicholas Norman to proceed as an opt-in collective action under the Alabama Age Discrimination in Employment Act (AADEA).
The lawsuit follows a major restructuring in which Central Alabama Water eliminated approximately 130 employee positions. Norman, who served as Assistant Manager of Distribution, was among those whose employment ended during the March 2026 reduction in force. Five additional former employees had already filed written consent to join the action when the court considered the request for conditional certification.
Legal Counsel and Civil Rights Advocates Respond
Attorneys Byron Perkins, Rod Cooks, and Richard Rice, representing the affected workers, issued a joint statement highlighting the broader impact of the court’s decision:
“This conditional certification is a critical first step toward holding Central Alabama Water accountable for what we allege is a systemic pattern of targeting experienced, dedicated workers based on their age,” said attorney Byron Perkins.
“When Central Alabama Water implemented its March 2026 restructuring and eliminated roughly 130 positions, we believe a common selection framework was used to disproportionately push out employees over the age of 40.” added attorney Rod Cooks.
“The court’s ruling validates our position that these workers share a common grievance, and it opens the doors for dozens of others to step forward, join this collective action, and demand the fair treatment they are legally owed,” stated attorney Richard Rice. “The utility’s sweeping organizational changes cannot serve as a shield for discriminatory practices.”
Court Opens Door for Additional Employees to Participate
Under the ruling, employees who were at least 40 years old on March 13, 2026, and who were terminated, displaced, or otherwise adversely affected by the restructuring may be eligible to participate in the lawsuit. The ruling permits eligible employees to receive notice of the lawsuit and voluntarily join by submitting written consent. The court also approved procedures for notifying potentially eligible employees through mail, email and text messages.
Potentially eligible employees are provided a 60-day period from the initial distribution of the court-approved notice to submit consent to join the lawsuit. The attorneys look forward to reaching out to eligible workers so they can officially opt into this fight for their rights in court. The case is Nicholas Norman v. The City of Birmingham Regional Water d/b/a Central Alabama Water, Case No. CV-2026-902511.00, in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama.
