Massachusetts Jury Instruction — 1.4.1 Age Discrimination In Employment Act 29 USC Sect.621 – 634 General Instruction is a legal directive provided to members of a jury in Massachusetts who are tasked with deciding a case related to age discrimination in employment. This particular instruction focuses on the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (AREA) of the United States Code, Sections 621-634. The AREA is a federal law that seeks to protect individuals who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination in the workplace based on their age. It prohibits employers from making employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promoting, or demoting, solely on the basis of age. The purpose of this instruction is to guide the jury in understanding the provisions of the AREA and the standards they should consider when determining liability in an age discrimination case. Some key points covered in Massachusetts Jury Instruction — 1.4.1 Age Discrimination In Employment Act 29 USC Sect.621 – 634 General Instruction may include: 1. Elements of an age discrimination claim: The instruction outlines the essential elements that the plaintiff (the person claiming age discrimination) must prove to establish a claim under the AREA. This may include showing that they were over the age of 40, qualified for the position, experienced an adverse employment action, and that the adverse action was due to their age. 2. Prima facie case: The instruction may explain the concept of a prima facie case, which refers to the minimum set of facts needed to prove a legal claim. It may outline the specific elements and burden of proof required for the plaintiff to establish a prima facie case of age discrimination. 3. Employer's defenses: The instruction may discuss potential defenses that an employer can raise, such as asserting a legitimate non-discriminatory reason for the adverse employment action. It may instruct the jury to consider these defenses along with the evidence presented by both parties. 4. Discriminatory intent: The instruction may underscore that the AREA prohibits both intentional discrimination and practices that have an unjustified disparate impact on older workers. It may instruct the jury to assess whether there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate discriminatory intent or disparate impact. It is important to note that while this description provides an overview of what Massachusetts Jury Instruction — 1.4.1 Age Discrimination In Employment Act 29 USC Sect.621 – 634 General Instruction may cover, the specific content and variations of the instruction may differ based on the case at hand and the judge's discretion. Therefore, it is essential to consult the specific jury instruction provided in a given case for an accurate understanding.