Age-discrimination proponents win big in Sacramento.

• Position: California Law - Brief Article

California's Supreme Court has ruled that the law barring age bias against employees doesn't apply to awarding job benefits.

According to the court, the state protects workers over age 40--half of the state's workforce--from age discrimination only in hiring, termination, demotion and suspension, but not in awarding benefits.

While the Fair Employment and Housing Act, on which this case was based, generally governs in California, the federal Age Discrimination in...