The companies behind “The Expendables” franchise and other action-oriented entertainment have reached a settlement with a former employee who sued for sexual discrimination and gender harassment.
Lawyers for the plaintiff, identified only as Jane Roe, filed papers on Thursday with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Randolph Hammock stating that their client’s case against Nu Image Inc. and Millennium Films Inc. was resolved. No terms were divulged.
The plaintiff filed suit in May 2017. She was described in the complaint as a former “creative executive” who was hired by Nu Image in September 2011. She provided administrative support to Mark Gill, president of Millennium Films, and worked long hours performing secretarial, administrative assistant and clerical work, the suit stated.
Roe alleged that she and other female employees were subject to a discriminatory, harassing and misogynistic work environment that was hostile to workers of her gender. The complaint alleges that terms offensive to women were regularly heard in the workplace and that actresses were described as “too fat,” “too ugly” and “too old,” even when famous actresses were being discussed that a development team had determined were creatively appropriate for various film roles.
The suit stated the plaintiff suffered from a physical disability during her employment and that her condition worsened in 2014, requiring her to make visits to physicians and have modified office equipment.
Shortly after the woman told management about an impending back surgery, she was fired from her job in December 2016, according to her lawsuit.