A judge has ordered arbitration of a former “Jeopardy!” director’s age discrimination lawsuit after the two sides agreed to remove the case from the court calendar.
Plaintiff Clay Jacobsen served as an associate director before being promoted to director when he worked for the game show from 2006 to February 2022.
On Thursday, Santa Monica Superior Court Judge Elaine W. Mandel placed a stay on the case pending the outcome of binding arbitration of his case against Quadra Productions Inc. The parties had filed court papers the same day stating their consensus that the case should be decided by an arbitrator rather than a jury.
Quadra attorneys on Oct. 20 had removed the case to federal court, but the lawsuit was remanded to Superior Court Oct. 26.
Jacobsen says that although he was told his termination was without cause, he was also informed that various employees had made complaints against him, all of which he maintains were false.
“In fact, the employees at issue were fabricating the basis for termination in attempt to advance their own careers,” the suit states.
The suit states that Jacobsen was over 40 years old, but does not give his specific age. A post-arbitration status conference is scheduled for June 27.