Referee Loses Age Discrimination Claim after Court Concludes He Was Independent Contractor

A federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois has granted the United States Soccer Federation’s motion for summary judgment in a case in which it was sued by a jilted referee for age discrimination.   In so ruling, the court found that the plaintiff was an independent contractor for the Federation based on several factors, meaning he was not protected by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). 29 U.S.C.A. § 621 (West 2011).   The plaintiff was Marcel Yonan, a socc