A former longtime Mattel HQ Inc. worker is asking a judge to vacate an arbitrator’s dismissal of all of the plaintiff’s claims in which he alleged that his job duties were gradually given to new employees who were younger and paid less before he was wrongfully fired in 2022 because of his age.
On Thursday, attorneys for plaintiff Jose Arellano filed court papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Pfahler in response to Mattel’s petition to confirm the findings of the arbitrator, retired Judge Katherine Chilton. According to Arellano’s lawyers, Chilton refused to hear material evidence, exceeded her authority on factual issues and substantially prejudiced the plaintiff’s rights by denying certain discovery and excluding critical witness testimony.
“These errors require (vacating) and remand (to Pfaler) for a full evidentiary hearing,” Arellano’s attorneys state in their court papers.
The arbitrator’s alleged discovery violations were “not harmless — they directly impaired plaintiff’s ability to oppose (Mattell’s dismissal motion),” Arellano’s lawyers’ pleadings further contend.
Arellano filed a lawsuit against Mattel in August 2023, but two months later he agreed to arbitrate his claims. In their court papers, Mattel attorneys maintained that in May 2021, Arellano signed an agreement to arbitrate work disputes.
Arellano’s lawsuit alleged wrongful termination, age discrimination and failure to prevent discrimination. Arellano sought a total of more than $600,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.
Arellano was hired in October 1997 and was more than 60 years old when terminated. He was a lead development program management associate and his duties included managing Mattel projects from through production while working with design, marketing and manufacturing teams. His annual salary was $130,000.
“For over 25 years, plaintiff successfully completed the job duties of all the job positions he occupied…,” the suit filed stated.
Mattel often promoted Arellano and he was given about a dozen salary increases after good merit reviews and he was the winner of eight incentive awards.
However, in 2022, Mattel hired about four new employees for the exact same position that Arellano had and they ranged in age between the mid-20s and early 30s and were paid substantially less than the plaintiff, according to the suit.
Soon thereafter, Arellano’s manager started telling the plaintiff to work “quicker” and that he was “too slow,” and “inefficient,” the suit stated.
Mattel also chose one of the younger employees to travel internationally to conduct company business, a job previously assigned to Arellano, the suit alleged.
Mattel terminated Arellano in December 2022, telling him it was based on his work performance, the suit stated. A hearing on Arellano’s motion is scheduled March 24, 2026.