Lionsgate Hit With Sex Discrimination Lawsuit By Ex-Development Executive
Lionsgate has been sued for sex discrimination by a former director of development for Renegade Entertainment, who alleges she was illegally terminated because she took maternity leave.
In a lawsuit filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Susan Merwin alleges the development department was run like a “boy’s club.” She seeks unspecified damages in the complaint that names Renegade, which is part of a Lionsgate division encompassing its unscripted TV arm Pilgrim Media Group and eOne’s unscripted groups Blackfin and Daisybeck Studios.
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Merwin says she disclosed to Renegade’s head of development last year that she was pregnant. She went on maternity leave in May and was terminated three months later, she alleges.
The lawsuit says she later discovered that her role wasn’t eliminated like she was told but that her subordinate was named in June to her position. She alleges her replacement is “vastly less qualified” than her.
“Behind closed doors, Defendants had made the reprehensible decision to illegally terminate her employment and replace her with her subordinate,” states the complaint.
Merwin also claims her supervisor excluded her and other female executives from meetings.
A Lionsgate spokesperson said that the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation. Renegade titles include Naked and Afraid.
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