U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein denied Meta's request to dismiss parts of a lawsuit filed by former employee Kelly Stonelake, allowing the case to proceed. Stonelake alleges sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation during her tenure from 2009 until a 2024 layoff. The complaint claims Meta failed to act after reports of sexual assault and harassment, repeatedly passed her over for promotions in favor of men, and retaliated after she flagged a video game she viewed as racist and harmful to minors. Stonelake states the alleged conditions damaged her mental health and required medical treatment. Meta argued claims were legally insufficient and time-barred under WLAD, but a judge rejected parts of that argument.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein, who is overseeing the case, ruled this month that parts of Stonelake's suit had merit, and the case will move forward. "I hope this ruling encourages others who have experienced discrimination and toxic workplace cultures to consider the courts as one way to push for justice and accountability," Stonelake said in a statement given to TechCrunch.
Meta moved the lawsuit to federal court and filed to dismiss Stonelake's suit, saying her claims were legally insufficient. In her initial complaint, Stonelake alleges Meta failed to take action after she reported sexual assault and harassment; that she was often passed over for promotion in favor of men; and that she faced retaliation after flagging a video game she perceived as racist and harmful to minors.
At the time, Meta declined to comment, citing pending litigation. In its motion to dismiss, Meta said Stonelake "fails to and cannot allege any viable claims against Meta," and that her claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation fell outside the statute of limitations of the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). A judge has partially rejected that argument.
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