In a gripping legal battle, a former employee has taken his fight against age discrimination to the federal court. On January 2, 2026, Jeffery Ferguson filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against WideOpenWest, Inc., alleging wrongful termination due to age discrimination. The lawsuit accuses the company of violating both federal and state anti-discrimination laws.
Jeffery Ferguson, who had dedicated over two decades to WideOpenWest (Wow), claims that his dismissal on February 11, 2025, was not only unjust but also part of a broader strategy by Wow to appear more appealing to potential buyers by reducing its workforce of older employees. According to Ferguson’s complaint, this was done in violation of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA). The complaint reveals that Ferguson had an exemplary record at Wow, having received internal awards and consistently high performance evaluations throughout his career. Despite this, he was terminated without warning or cause. “The decision came from above,” said Area Manager Phil Delcambre apologetically when informing Ferguson about his termination.
Ferguson’s legal filing outlines how Wow allegedly targeted older employees as part of a plan to streamline operations ahead of a proposed acquisition by private equity firms Digital Bridge and Crestview Partners. This alleged strategy included pressuring older employees like Marty Melton into accepting severance packages under threat of demotion and pay cuts. In Ferguson’s case, he was replaced by a younger employee shortly after his dismissal—a move he argues was indicative of age-based bias within the company.
The lawsuit seeks several forms of relief from the court: reinstatement to his former position at Wow, compensation for lost wages and benefits, liquidated damages for willful violations under ADEA provisions, and coverage for attorney fees and litigation costs. Furthermore, Ferguson is pursuing non-economic damages under ELCRA for emotional distress caused by his termination.
Representing Ferguson are attorneys Michael L. Pitt and Juliet Happy from Pitt McGehee Palmer Bonanni & Rivers PC. The case is being heard before Judge Gershwin A. Drain in the Eastern District of Michigan under Case ID 2:26-cv-10002-GAD-DRG.
Source: 226cv10002_Keffery_Ferguson_v_Wide_OpenL_Complaint_Eastern_District_of_Michigan.pdf
