by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 11 – The CBS News show 60 Minutes and their parent Paramount Global have been sued by former producer Alexandra Poolos for gender discrimination, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
On December 11 there was a hearing on discovery and the issue of "comparators." Inner City Press live tweeted it, thread:
Poolos' complaint cites her work as producer on 60 Minutes segments on China's real estate bubble and an interview with Maria Butina, in a Federal prison.
CBS lawyer: They're asking for documents about people acted on by people other than Bill Owens. It's too broad. It should be limited to seven people. I urge the Court to require the plaintiff to reissue the demands, maybe that would spur good faith conferring
Judge Henry J. Ricardl: How long as Bill Owens been on the job at 60 Minutes?
CBS lawyer 2: Executive producer since 2019, with the plaintiff reporting to him. Judge: Plaintiff's counsel, tell me why you picked these 7 comparators Plaintiff's counsel: They had worse complaints.
Judge I realize one is the guy in England. Plaintiff's counsel: On one, there was a complaint in January 2015.
Judge: Which one? A: Michael Rudzutsky [Complaint: ""twisted her arm behind her back"]
[Among the 7, and "suggested she flirt with sources." Another allegedly texted a female associate producer of himself urinating on a campfire. According to the Complaint, "Stahl told Poolos that Vinograd was fabricating the allegations against Gavshon to get money
Plaintiff's lawyer: We allege years of sexual harassment at 60 Minutes and CBS News more broadly...
Judge: I'm going to grant it, it's limited to 60 Minutes. Let's turn to Michael Gavshon. The defense cites the GDPR, but I don't see the argument.
CBS lawyer: It would be the transfer of personal data - there is an exception for exercising legal rights
Judge: The information about complaints against Mr. Gavshon must be released.
[Counsel notes that the "campfire urination" photo is public]
The case is Poolos v. Paramount Global, et al., 1:23-cv-8896 (Woods / Ricardo)
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