Judge Denies Meta’s Request To Dismiss Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Filed By Early Employee

A judge has denied Meta’s request to disregard a suit brought against it by early worker Kelly Stonelake. 

U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein, who is overseeing nan case, ruled this period that parts of Stonelake’s suit had merit, and nan lawsuit will move forward. 

“I dream this ruling encourages others who person knowledgeable favoritism and toxic workplace cultures to see nan courts arsenic 1 measurement to push for justness and accountability,” Stonelake said successful a connection fixed to TechCrunch.

Stonelake, who worked astatine Meta from 2009 until being laid disconnected successful early 2024, filed a suit against Meta successful Washington authorities earlier this year, alleging intersexual harassment, activity discrimination, and retaliation. Meta moved nan suit to national tribunal and revenge to disregard Stonelake’s suit, saying her claims were legally insufficient.

Meta declined to remark connected nan suit aliases nan judge’s decision.

In her first complaint, Stonelake alleges Meta grounded to return action aft she reported intersexual battle and harassment; that she was often passed complete for promotion successful favour of men; and that she faced retaliation aft flagging a video crippled she perceived arsenic racist and harmful to minors. She said moving for Meta nether these alleged conditions severely damaged her intelligence authorities and near her successful aesculapian treatment. 

When asked successful February why she decided to record her suit, Stonelake said she wanted to thrust accountability for what she alleges is simply a ample shape of maltreatment astatine Meta. 

“Meta has nan opportunity to do harm connected a standard that only tech companies can,” she said.

At nan time, Meta declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

In its mobility to dismiss, Meta said Stonelake “fails to and cannot allege immoderate viable claims against Meta,” and that her claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation fell extracurricular nan statute of limitations of nan Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). 

A judge has partially rejected that argument.

In documents revenge August 21, nan judge stated that parts of Stonelake’s claims regarding retaliation, nonaccomplishment to promote, and intersexual harassment were capable to survive. The judge has dismissed different circumstantial claims wrong nan suit that covered different allegations of intersexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. Stonelake was besides denied her petition to amend nan filing, should she choose.

Stonelake and Meta will now record a associated position report, which is owed mid-September.  

Stonelake’s claims are conscionable immoderate of nan high-profile allegations Meta has faced arsenic of late.

Shortly aft Stonelake revenge this suit, Sarah Wynn-Williams (who led nationalist argumentation for what was past called Facebook) released her memoir “Carless People,” wherever she alleged intersexual harassment by her boss, arsenic good arsenic retaliation aft she reported him. Meta denied nan allegations successful nan book, and Wynn-Williams is presently barred from trading it aft a judge sided pinch Meta successful that she had apt surgery her non-disclosure statement successful penning it.