For twenty years, Maynard works for Natural Gas Wells, Inc., which employs more than five hundred persons in two states. Natural Gas Wells drills for and mines natural gas to sell and transport to refineries, which in turn pipes liquefied gas to other states. Maynard starts as an unskilled worker in the drilling fields. After a career of positive job evaluations and pay raises, Maynard is ultimately promoted to the position of chief of maintenance for a dozen wellheads. Five years later, a new employee, Oberto, is hired to oversee operations at all of the wellheads. Oberto demotes Maynard, who is now over the age of forty, and freezes his salary. Oberto demotes five other employees over the age of forty and places Maynard under the supervision of Pitt, who is twenty-three. Maynard overhears Pitt say, "We’re going to have to do away with these old men." Maynard quits and files a suit against Natural Gas Wells for employment discrimination. Should he prevail?