is considered synonymous with such words as ‘voluntary,’ ‘deliberate,’ and ‘intentional.’ ” McLaughlin v. Richland Shoe Co., 486 U.S. 128, 133, 108 S.Ct. 1677, 100 L.Ed.2d 115 (1988). Though it is "a word of many meanings whose construction is often dependent on the context in which it appears,” Safeco Ins. Co. of Am. v. Burr, --- U.S. ---, ---, 127 S.Ct. 2201, 2208, 167 L.Ed.2d 1045 (2007), "it is generally understood to refer to conduct that is not merely negligent,” McLaughlin, 486 U.S. at 133, 108 S.Ct. 1677, and is therefore usually interpreted as "cover[ing] not only knowing violations of a standard, but reckless ones as well,” Safeco Ins., --- U.S. at ---, 127 S.Ct. at 2208; see also Hazen Paper Co. v. Biggins, 507 U.S. 604, 614-17, 113 S.Ct. 1701, 123 L.Ed.2d 338 (1993) (<HOLDING>). As the plaintiffs correctly point out, "there
holding that the age discrimination in employment act adea 29 usc  621 et seq was not a valid abrogation of the states sovereign immunity holding employees under age discrimination in employment acts adea parallel retaliation provision includes former employees as long as the alleged discrimination is related to or arises out of the employment relationship holding that an employers violation of the age discrimination in employment act 29 usc  62134 2000 the adea should be considered willful if the employer knew or showed reckless disregard for the matter of whether its conduct was prohibited by the adea holding that the age discrimination in employment act was not preempted by the nlra holding no individual liability under the adea