Wrongful Termination And Retaliation Claims Can Proceed Against Screen Actors Guild
Metoyer v. Screen Actors Guild, 2007 WL 2781909 (9th Cir. Sept. 26, 2007)
SAG terminated the employment of Dr. Patricia Heisser Metoyer (SAG’s national executive director of affirmative action) after PricewaterhouseCoopers concluded she had authorized payment of $30,000 of funds available for Guild use to friends, business partners and her husband’s production company. Metoyer responded by filing a lawsuit alleging race discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and violation of state anti-discrimination law. Although the district court granted summary judgment to SAG, the Ninth Circuit reversed in part and held Metoyer could proceed with her claims for wrongful termination and retaliation under state and federal law. Cf. Beck v. UFCW, 2007 WL 3197089 (9th Cir. Nov. 1, 2007) (employee’s $191,000 gender discrimination judgment against union is affirmed).
