1le Laura L. Horton, SBN 158990 Flor C. Dery, SBN 271876 HORTON LAW FIRM, APC 9045 Corbin Avenue, Suite 260 Northridge, CA 91324 Telephone: (818) 407-0700 Facsimile: (818) 407-0705 E-mail: Attorneys for Plaintiff, Jami L. Cantor COPY LONeUE-tvmu LZOPY ORIGINAL SL1 ji-?rlOr Cami oi Ca?illiorma Countv o; i Angeies DEC 11 2017 Shani Carter, Executive Officer/Clerk By Nancy Alvarez, Deputy SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES L. CANTOR, an individual, Plaintiffs, v. NFL ENTERPRISES, LP, a limited partnership; JESSICA LEE, an individual; and DOES 50, inclusive, Defendants. 0001 COMPLAINT CASE NO: BC678714 [Filed on October 6, 2017; Assigned to Hon. Ernest M. Hiroshige, Dept. 51] FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1. Discrimination Because of Age and Sex/Gender in Violation of FEHA Government Code l2940(a) 2. Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment in Violation of EHA Government Code 129400) 2 Cal. Code Regs. 7287.6 3. Retaliation in Violation of EHA Government Code l2940(h) 2 Cal. Code Regs. 7287.8 4. Failure to Prevent Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation in Violation of FEHA Government Code [2940(k) 5. Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy 6. Retaliation in Violation of Labor Code 1102.5 7. Unfair Business Practices (Bus. Prof. Code 17200 et. seq.) 8. Unpaid Wages Penalties 9. Conversion (Wage Theft) 10. Labor Code Violations Pursuant to the Private Attorney General?s Act (Labor Code 2699 et. seq.) 1. Defamation JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 1- FOR DAMAGES 1 Plaintiff, JAMI L. CANTOR, complains against Defendants, and each of them, demands 2 a trial by jury of all issues and for all causes of action, and hereby alleges, based upon 3 information and belief, the following: PARTIES 4 1. 5 6 At all relevant times herein, Plaintiff JAMI L. CANTOR (Plaintiff) is, and was, an individual residing within the State of California, County of Los Angeles. 2. 7 At all relevant times herein, NFL ENTERPRISES, LP (NFL) is, and was, a 8 limited partnership doing business in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and 9 qualified as an “employer” under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) at Government 10 Code § 12926(d). 11 3. At all relevant times, Defendant JESSICA LEE was a resident of the State of 12 California, County of Los Angeles. Plaintiff is informed and believes, and thereon alleges, that 13 during all relevant times mentioned herein, Defendant JESSICA LEE was employed by 14 Defendant NFL ENTERPRISES, LP in a managerial and supervisorial capacity and was 15 Plaintiff’s last supervisor. 4. 16 In addition to the Defendants named above, Plaintiff sues fictitiously Defendants 17 DOES 1 through 50, inclusive, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 474, because their names, 18 capacities, status, or facts showing them to be liable are not presently known. Plaintiff is 19 informed and believes, and thereon alleges that Defendants, and each of them, designated herein 20 as DOES 1 through 50, are responsible in some manner for the occurrences and happenings 21 herein alleged, and that Plaintiff’s damages, as herein alleged, were and are the direct and 22 proximate result of the actions of said Defendants, and each of them. Plaintiff will amend this 23 complaint to show their true names and capacities, together with appropriate charging language, 24 when such information has been ascertained. 5. 25 Plaintiff is informed and believes, and based thereon alleges that at all times 26 material and relevant herein, that each of the Defendants, including each DOE Defendant, was 27 the agent, subsidiary, employee, representing partner, partner, servant, employer, joint-employer, 28 co-venturer, joint venture, successor corporation, successor entity, successor, alter ego, and/or 0001 -2COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 owner, of the remaining Defendants and was working in concert with his or its co-Defendants 2 and was acting within the course and scope of such agency, successorship, ownership, 3 partnership, employment, venture, and/or concerted activity and in doing the acts alleged herein, 4 was acting both individually and within the course and scope of such agency, partnership, 5 employment, venture, and/or concerted activity and with the knowledge, consent and ratification 6 of the remaining Defendants. Each of the Defendants condoned, approved of and/or otherwise 7 ratified the acts of each of the other Defendants. Whenever and wherever reference is made in 8 this Complaint to any act or failure to act by a Defendant or co-Defendant, such allegations and 9 references shall also be deemed to mean the acts and/or failures to act by each Defendant acting 10 individually, jointly and severally. 6. 11 Plaintiff reserves the right to amend her charges to plead agency between 12 Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, inclusive, and any of them, at any time that she 13 ascertains acts supporting such agency between such Defendants. JURISDICTION & VENUE 14 7. 15 16 The amount of Plaintiff’s claims exceeds the minimal jurisdictional dollar amount for this Court of unlimited jurisdiction. 8. 17 One or more of the Defendants resides within and/or does business within the 18 State of California, County of Los Angeles, making this Court the proper venue for Plaintiff’s 19 claims. ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES 20 9. 21 22 Plaintiff has satisfied all private, administrative and judicial prerequisites to the institution of this action. 10. 23 Plaintiff timely filed charges with the Department of Fair Employment and 24 Housing (DFEH) against the named Defendants, and each of them, for the wrongful acts alleged 25 herein, and was issued a right-to-sue letter by the DFEH within the past year. 11. 26 This action is not preempted by the California Workers’ Compensation Act 27 because claims brought under the FEHA and Labor Code – including without limitation 28 discrimination because of age and sex/gender, sexual harassment, retaliation, failure to prevent 0001 -3COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and violations of the Labor Code – are not risks or 2 conditions of employment subject to workers’ compensation law. 12. 3 This action is not preempted by any collective bargaining agreement, the National 4 Labor Relations Act or other Federal law because these claims arise out of violations of the 5 public policies of the State of California as set forth in the California Constitution, California 6 Fair Employment & Housing Act at Government Code § 12900 et. seq. and other state laws. 13. 7 On October 6, 2017, Plaintiff, pursuant to Labor Code § 2699 et. seq., through 8 Plaintiff’s attorneys, filed her PAGA claim online with the Labor and Workforce Development 9 Agency, sent a copy of her claim via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Defendant 10 NFL. The Labor & Workforce Development Agency did not respond to Plaintiff within 65 11 calendar days of the mailing of the notice as to whether it intends to investigate the alleged 12 violations, thereby permitting Plaintiff to proceed with the causes of action relating to Labor 13 Code § 2699. Pursuant to Labor Code § 2699(a), Plaintiff seeks to recover civil penalties for 14 which Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 are liable for the Labor Code violations as set forth 15 herein. FACTS COMMON TO MORE THAN ONE CAUSE OF ACTION 16 14. 17 18 This action arises under the laws of the State of California (Government Code § 12920 et. seq.) and the rules, regulations implementing said statutes and common law. 15. 19 Plaintiff is a member of a protected class within the meaning of the California 20 Fair Employment & Housing Act, Government Code §12900, et seq. (FEHA). Plaintiff is 21 female, over the age of 40, and opposed employment practices forbidden under the FEHA, i.e. 22 age discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and has protested illegal activity in violation 23 of various California Labor Codes including, but not limited to California Labor Code §§ 201, 24 203, 218.5, 226.7, 510, 512, 558, 1102.5, 1194, and 2802. 25 16. Plaintiff is an “employee” under the FEHA at Government Code § 12926(d). 26 17. At all times during her employment Plaintiff performed her job duties in a 27 competent and satisfactory manner. 18. 28 0001 At all times material herein, Defendant NFL qualified as an “employer” under the -4COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 FEHA at Government Code §12926(d) and within the meaning of the FEHA. 19. 2 3 wardrobe stylist in Los Angeles County. 20. 4 5 At all times material herein, Plaintiff was employed by Defendant NFL as a Plaintiff began her employment with NFL Enterprises, LP (NFL) in approximately 2006 as a wardrobe stylist. 21. 6 Part of Plaintiff’s job duties was to build a wardrobe closet so the on-air talent 7 had clothes to wear on the NFL shows. However, at the NFL there was no wardrobe budget. To 8 create a wardrobe closet, she had to use her own clothes, set up studio accounts with department 9 stores using her own credit card to buy clothes for the talent. 22. 10 Plaintiff complained often to her supervisors and NFL’s Human Resources that 11 she was not given a budget or resources to build a wardrobe for the talent, she was using her own 12 credit card for loaned and purchased clothes, she was not being reimbursed for the wardrobe she 13 paid for using her own money, she was being forced to work off the clock without pay, and she 14 was never given meal and rest breaks. If the talent damaged the loaned clothes, Plaintiff had to 15 pay for the clothes because they were charged to her personal credit card. 23. 16 Throughout Plaintiff’s employment at NFL, she was also subjected to ongoing 17 and continuing sexual harassment by current and former on air talent and other employees of 18 NFL, including but not limited to the following: a. 19 Former executive producer of NFL Network, Eric Weinberger, sent Plaintiff 20 several nude pictures of himself and sexually explicit texts, including but not 21 limited to, “[Plaintiff] was put on earth to pleasure me,” and “watching you walk 22 down the hall makes me crazy, your a** drives me insane.” While at work, Mr. 23 Weinberger asked Plaintiff to meet him in the back bathroom because he needed 24 to see her and was “super horny.” At times, when Plaintiff was working at her 25 desk, Mr. Weinberger pressed his crotch against Plaintiff’s shoulder and ask 26 Plaintiff to touch it. Mr. Weinberger cornered Plaintiff and grabbed her behind, 27 touching Plaintiff’s crotch, groping her breasts, and put his hands down Plaintiff’s 28 pants to “check if she was wearing underwear.” Mr. Weinberger also made lewd 0001 -5COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 comments, including telling Plaintiff she was “making him hard,” “making him 2 want to do all kinds of bad things,” and that someone like Plaintiff “should be 3 getting f***ed every day.” b. 4 Current on-air talent on NFL Network, Marshall Faulk, asked Plaintiff deeply 5 personal and invasive questions about Plaintiff’s sex life, such as her favorite sex 6 position, whether she liked oral sex, and whether she dated black men. Instead of 7 saying good morning, Mr. Faulk greeted Plaintiff by fondling her breasts and 8 groping her behind. As time went on, Mr. Faulk became more aggressive, such as 9 inviting Plaintiff to his hotel room, stroking and pulling out his genitals in front of 10 her, pointing to his crotch and asking Plaintiff, “when are you gonna get on this 11 already?” He also pinned Plaintiff against a wall, demanding oral sex while he 12 pulled his pants down. c. 13 Current on-air talent on NFL Network, Ike Taylor, sent Plaintiff sexually 14 inappropriate pictures of himself, and a nude video while masturbating in the 15 shower. d. 16 Former on-air talent on NFL Network, Eric Davis, came into Plaintiff’s office 17 pretending to ask for help with his clothes so he could grab and push/rub his body 18 against Plaintiff. Mr. Davis made lewd comments to Plaintiff in her office and 19 while on set, such as, “when are we going to spend time together?” “I want you so 20 bad,” “my c**k is so hard because of you right now,” “you look like a woman 21 who knows what to do in bed,” “you look like you would be an animal in the 22 sheets,” “[Mr. Davis] loved really rough sex and would love to be able to spank 23 [Plaintiff] so hard it would leave marks,” “can tell you like it rough and would 24 love it.” Mr. Davis also asked Plaintiff to have rough sex with him, and said that 25 he wanted to choke Plaintiff from behind until Plaintiff begged him to stop. Also, 26 while Plaintiff was working on set on a ladder, Mr. Davis grabbed Plaintiff’s 27 behind, slid his hand between Plaintiff’s legs, and touched Plaintiff’s privates, 28 while saying, “I can’t handle your a** it is so luscious.” When Plaintiff slapped 0001 -6COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 his hand away, Mr. Davis aggressively told Plaintiff to never push his hand away 2 again. e. 3 During Plaintiff’s employment, the NFL forced Plaintiff to work in the men’s 4 restroom. Former on-air talent on NFL Network, Warren Sapp, came into the 5 restroom while Plaintiff was preparing clothes, and urinated in front of her. 6 Plaintiff screamed at him to get out, but Mr. Sapp laughed and told Plaintiff, 7 “Sorry mama, but your office shouldn’t be our shitter.” Plaintiff complained to the 8 NFL, but nothing was done until Plaintiff told the NFL she would work in the 9 hallway. Mr. Sapp also gave Plaintiff sex toys as a Christmas gifts three years in 10 a row, showed Plaintiff nude pictures of numerous women he claimed to have 11 slept with, and openly talked about his sex life in front of Plaintiff and other NFL 12 employees, including supervisors. f. 13 Former on-air talent on NFL Network, Donavan McNabb, sent Plaintiff sexually 14 inappropriate comments via text message, including but not limited to, asking 15 Plaintiff if she was a “squirter,” telling Plaintiff she “looked like the kind of girl 16 that squirted when getting f***ed,” “C*M to dinner with me,” and “why don’t 17 you C*M over after work.” g. 18 Current on-air talent on NFL Network, Heath Evans, sent Plaintiff nude pictures 19 of himself on at least two separate occasions. Mr. Evans constantly propositioned 20 Plaintiff to have sex with him. Mr. Evans also made several sexually 21 inappropriate comments to Plaintiff, such as, “you’re making me horny,” and 22 “needed to get in you deep and hard.” h. 23 NFL’s Talent Coordinator, Marc Watts, made sexually inappropriate comments 24 about Plaintiff’s body and asked invasive and inappropriate questions about 25 Plaintiff’s sex life. Mr. Watts also asked Plaintiff, “how many of these guys (i.e. 26 talent) hit on you?” and “I bet they all want to sleep with you.” Plaintiff 27 complained to Mr. Watts about the various and numerous unwanted sexual 28 advances from the NFL talent, but Mr. Watts did nothing and instead responded, 0001 -7COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 “It’s part of the job when you look the way you do.” 24. 2 3 Nothing was done in response to Plaintiff’s complaints. Instead, NFL made it more difficult for Plaintiff to do her job by increasing her work load and cutting her hours. 25. 4 On October 10, 2016, with no warning, Plaintiff was terminated by her supervisor 5 at the NFL, Jessica Lee, and NFL’s Human Resources, Andres Astralaga. Lee and Astralaga 6 accused Plaintiff of stealing clothes from one of the talent. The NFL had security camera video. 7 If they would have looked at the video they would have seen that Plaintiff did not steal any 8 clothes. NFL did not return Plaintiff’s personal items or reimburse her for her business 9 expenses. Instead, NFL continues to use Plaintiff’s personal wardrobe items to dress their talent, 10 and told Plaintiff’s vendor contacts Plaintiff was terminated for stealing and to not work with 11 Plaintiff anymore. 12 26. 13 At the time of Plaintiff’s termination, she was 51 years old, and was replaced by a 30-year-old employee. Plaintiff has seen the NFL “age-out” other older employees. 14 FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION 15 Discrimination Because of Age and Sex/Gender 16 In Violation of Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) 17 Government Code § 12940(a) 18 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 27. 19 20 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 28. 21 At all relevant times Plaintiff was a qualified individual and was covered under 22 the FEHA because of her status as being over 40 years old and as a woman who was the target of 23 sexual harassment by male co-workers. Government Code § 12900 et. seq. 29. 24 25 employers of the State of California, as defined in the FEHA at Government Code § 12926. 30. 26 27 At all relevant times, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, inclusive, were At all relevant times, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, were aware of Plaintiff’s age and sex/gender. 31. 28 0001 At all relevant times, Plaintiff’s protected status was a motivating reason for -8COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s treatment of Plaintiff, and the eventual unlawful discharge of 2 Plaintiff from her employment. 32. 3 As the employer, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, are strictly liable for the 4 conduct of Plaintiff’s co-workers because they are NFL employees, and on information and 5 belief, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 knew or should have known of the discrimination and 6 sexual harassment and failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. 33. 7 In perpetrating the above-described actions, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, 8 and each of them, engaged in continuing and ongoing pattern and practice of unlawful 9 discrimination and sexual harassment in violation of Government Code § 12940(j)(1). 34. 10 In engaging in the aforesaid wrongful conduct, Plaintiff was subject to adverse 11 employment actions and treated less favorably than those similarly situated employees who were 12 not part of Plaintiff’s protected class. 35. 13 Plaintiff is informed and believes and thereon alleges that evidence adduced 14 during discovery will demonstrate a statistically significant disparate impact on persons based on 15 their age and/or sex/gender. 36. 16 In engaging in the aforesaid wrongful conduct, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 17 discriminated against Plaintiff on the basis of her age and sex/gender in violation of the FEHA at 18 Government Code § 12940(a). 37. 19 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 20 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 21 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 22 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 38. 23 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 24 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 25 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 26 proof at the time of trial. 39. 27 28 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 0001 -9COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 2 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 3 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 4 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 5 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 6 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 7 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 8 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 9 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 10 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 11 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 40. 12 13 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 14 SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION 15 Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment 16 In Violation of Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) 17 Government Code § 12940(j) & 2 Cal. Code Regs. § 7287.6 18 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 41. 19 20 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 42. 21 Government Code § 12940(j) requires Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 to 22 refrain from harassing, or creating, or maintaining a hostile work environment against an 23 employee based on her age and sex/gender, and engagement in protected activities as set forth 24 herein. 43. 25 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 violated Government Code § 12940(j) by 26 discriminating against Plaintiff when they allowed harassment on the basis of age and 27 sex/gender, retaliated against Plaintiff for opposing sexual harassment, failed to prevent 28 violations of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and terminated Plaintiff as described above. 0001 -10COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 44. In perpetrating the above-described actions, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, 2 and each of them, engaged in a continuing and ongoing pattern and practice of unlawful sexual 3 harassment in violation of Government Code § 12940(j)(1). 45. 4 5 Plaintiff was a member of a protected class as a woman who was the target of sexual harassment by her co-workers. 46. 6 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, sexually harassed Plaintiff 7 and/or failed to take immediate and appropriate corrective action. The harassment was 8 sufficiently pervasive or severe as to alter the conditions of Plaintiff’s employment to create a 9 hostile, intimidating or abusive work environment. 47. 10 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, as the employer of Plaintiff’s co-workers, is 11 strictly liable for their conduct, on information and belief, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 12 knew or should have known of the sexual harassment and failed to take immediate and 13 appropriate corrective action. 48. 14 Plaintiff suffered the adverse employment actions of unlawful harassment and 15 discrimination, failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, and termination, and was 16 harmed thereby. 49. 17 Plaintiff is informed and believes that her perceived age, sex/gender, engagement 18 in protective activities, and/or some combination of these protected characteristics under 19 Government Code § 12926 were motivating reasons and/or factors in the decisions to subject 20 Plaintiff to the aforementioned adverse employment actions. 50. 21 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 22 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 23 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 24 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 51. 25 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 26 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 27 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 28 proof at the time of trial. 0001 -11COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 52. The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 2 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 3 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 4 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 5 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 6 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 7 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 8 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 9 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 10 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 11 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 12 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 13 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 53. 14 15 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 16 THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION 17 Retaliation in Violation of Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) 18 Government Code § 12940(h) & 2 Cal. Code Regs. § 7287.8 19 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 54. 20 21 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 55. 22 At all relevant times, Plaintiff was a qualified individual who is over 40 years old 23 and female, and was covered under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) Government 24 Code § 12900 et. seq. 56. 25 26 employers in the State of California, as defined in the FEHA at Government Code § 12926. 57. 27 28 At all relevant times, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, inclusive, were During her employment, Plaintiff opposed unlawful employment practices of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, within the meaning of the FEHA at Government Code § 0001 -12COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 12940(h) and violations of the California Labor Code by, and without limitation, questioning 2 and complaining about violation of California’s Labor laws. 58. 3 At all relevant times, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, were aware of Plaintiff’s 4 complaints about Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s unlawful business practices, including 5 without limitation, bullying, humiliating, mocking, and belittling Plaintiff because of her 6 protected status. Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 retaliated against Plaintiff by discharging, 7 expelling or otherwise discriminating against her, and such conduct was a substantial motivating 8 factor in causing Plaintiff harm. 59. 9 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 10 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 11 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 12 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 60. 13 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 14 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 15 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 16 proof at the time of trial. 61. 17 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 18 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 19 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 20 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 21 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 22 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 23 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 24 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 25 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 26 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 27 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 28 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 0001 -13COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 62. 2 3 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 4 FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION 5 Failure to Prevent Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation 6 In Violation of Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA) 7 Government Code § 12940(k) 8 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 63. 9 10 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 64. 11 At all relevant times Plaintiff was a qualified individual who is over 40 years old, 12 female, and was covered under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Government 13 Code § 12900 et. seq. 65. 14 15 in the State of California, as defined in the FEHA at Government Code § 12926. 66. 16 17 At all relevant times Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, inclusive, were employers Plaintiff was subjected to discrimination, harassment or retaliation because of her age and sex/gender. 67. 18 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, inclusive, failed to take reasonable steps to 19 prevent discrimination, harassment and retaliation, and this failure was a substantial factor in 20 causing Plaintiff harm. 68. 21 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 22 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 23 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 24 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 69. 25 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 26 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 27 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 28 proof at the time of trial. 0001 -14COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 70. The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 2 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 3 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 4 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 5 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 6 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 7 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 8 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 9 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 10 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 11 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 12 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 13 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 71. 14 15 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 16 FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION 17 Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy 18 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 72. 19 20 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 73. 21 At all times material hereto, Plaintiff is and was a citizen of the State of 22 California, and employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 in the State of California until 23 her employment was unlawfully terminated. 74. 24 At all times material hereto, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s termination of 25 Plaintiff’s employment was because of reasons that are against the public policies of the State of 26 California, including without limitation the following: (1) because of age; (2) because of 27 sex/gender; (3) because of her pursuing her rights under FEHA; and (4) because she opposed and 28 complained about illegal conduct by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 in violation of the Labor 0001 -15COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 Code. 75. 2 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, were motivated to terminate 3 Plaintiff on grounds that violated public policy of the State of California as stated by, without 4 limitation, the FEHA (Government Code § 12900 et. seq.); complaining about illegal conduct 5 pursuant to Labor Code § 1102.5; other applicable California statutes and common law; and 6 Plaintiff’s constitutional rights under the California Constitution, Article 1, section 8, that 7 individuals shall not be discriminated or retaliated against in their employment on the basis of 8 their age, sex/gender, or complaining to their employer about illegal conduct. 9 76. Plaintiff was wrongfully terminated on or about October 10, 2016. 10 77. As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 11 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 12 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 13 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 78. 14 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 15 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 16 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 17 proof at the time of trial. 79. 18 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 19 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 20 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 21 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 22 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 23 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 24 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 25 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 26 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 27 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 28 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 0001 -16COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 2 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 3 SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION 4 Retaliation in Violation of Labor Code § 1102.5 5 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 80. 6 7 preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 81. 8 9 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all Labor Code § 1102.5(b) prohibits employers from retaliating or terminating an employee for disclosing information, or because the employer believes that the employee 10 disclosed or may disclose information, to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person 11 with authority over the employee or another employee who has the authority to investigate, 12 discover, or correct the violation or non-compliance regardless of whether disclosing the 13 information is part of the employee’s job duties. 82. 14 Labor Code § 1102.5(c) prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee 15 for the employee’s refusal to participate in an activity that would result in a violation of state or 16 federal statute, or a violation of or noncompliance with a local, state or federal rule or regulation. 83. 17 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 violated Labor Code § 1102.5 by terminating 18 Plaintiff’s employment because Plaintiff communicated what she reasonably believes to be 19 illegal conduct by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s employees that was endorsed by 20 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50. 84. 21 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 22 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 23 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 24 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 85. 25 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 26 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 27 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 28 proof at the time of trial. 0001 -17COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 86. The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 2 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 3 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 4 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 5 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 6 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 7 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 8 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 9 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 10 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 11 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 12 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 13 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 87. 14 15 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 16 SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 17 Unfair Business Practices 18 (Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 et. seq.) 19 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 - 50 88. 20 21 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 89. 22 During Plaintiff’s employment, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 engaged in 23 unlawful conduct, constituting unfair business practices, including but not limited to failing to 24 pay Plaintiff overtime, reimburse Plaintiff for her business expenses, and never giving Plaintiff 25 meal and rest breaks. 90. 26 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s conduct, as alleged above, constitutes 27 unlawful, unfair and fraudulent activity prohibited by Business and Professions Code § 17200 et. 28 seq. 0001 -18COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 91. As a result of its improper acts, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 has reaped and 2 continues to reap unfair benefits and illegal profits at Plaintiff’s expense. Defendant NFL and 3 DOES 1 – 50 should be enjoined from this activity and made to disgorge these ill-gotten gains 4 and restore to Plaintiff the wrongfully withheld wages and related premium pay and/or penalties, 5 pursuant to Business and Professions Code § 17203. 6 EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION 7 Unpaid Wages & Penalties 8 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 92. 9 10 preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 93. 11 12 At all relevant times herein, NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were Plaintiff’s employer, and were obligated to pay Plaintiff for all time worked. 94. 13 14 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all During Plaintiff’s employment, Plaintiff performed all obligations as required during employment. 95. 15 As part of Plaintiff’s employment, Plaintiff was required by Defendant NFL and 16 DOES 1 – 50 to work more than 8 hours per day. Plaintiff, a non-exempt employee, was not paid 17 by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 for her overtime work and was not provided meal/rest 18 breaks. In order to fulfill her job requirements, Plaintiff was forced to work during her days off 19 from work and was not paid for such work. 96. 20 As part of Plaintiff’s employment, Plaintiff was required to create a wardrobe 21 closet for Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s talent, use her own clothes, set up studio accounts 22 with department stores using her own credit card to buy and loan clothes for the talent. 23 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 did not reimburse Plaintiff for her business expenses. 97. 24 Plaintiff’s last day of work was October 10, 2016. To date, Defendant NFL and 25 DOES 1 – 50 have refused to pay Plaintiff the total amount of wages that Plaintiff, through her 26 employment and labor, had earned while working for Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, 27 including wages for overtime and business expenses, and have failed to return her personal 28 clothing, jewelry, and shoes. 0001 -19COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 98. Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s refusal to pay Plaintiff for her overtime work, 2 failure to provide meal/rest breaks, failure to indemnify/reimburse Plaintiff’s necessary 3 expenditures incurred during discharge of work duties, and failure to pay such wages 4 immediately upon termination, was contrary to the terms of employment and the laws of the 5 State of California, including but not limited to Labor Code § 201, 226.7, 510, 512, and 2802. 99. 6 7 Plaintiff to penalties under Labor Code §§ 203 and 558. 100. 8 9 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s failure to pay wages was willful, entitling Pursuant to Labor Code §§ 218.5 and 1194(a), Plaintiff requests that the court award Plaintiff reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in this action. 101. 10 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 11 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 12 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 13 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 102. 14 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 15 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 16 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 17 proof at the time of trial. 103. 18 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 19 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 20 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 21 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 22 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 23 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 24 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 25 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 26 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 27 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 28 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 0001 -20COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 2 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 3 NINTH CAUSE OF ACTION 4 Conversion (Wage Theft) 5 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 104. 6 7 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 105. 8 It is well-settled that employees in California have a vested property right to their 9 wages and the right vests as the work is performed. As conversion is the wrongful dominion of 10 another’s property and as conversion includes intangible property rights (where the amount is 11 certain or capable of being made certain), conversion is appropriate to recover unlawfully 12 withheld wages, and the personal items that NFL controls. 106. 13 As described above, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 - 50 wrongfully withheld and 14 failed to pay Plaintiff wages and other compensation under their contract of employment with 15 her and as required under the California Labor Code and other provisions of California law, and 16 failed to return her personal property. 107. 17 Having performed labor for Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, the wages due 18 were and are fully the property of Plaintiff, and her property rights to said wages were vested 19 immediately upon performing the labor. Plaintiff had and has an immediate right to possess the 20 withheld wages. Plaintiff further has a right to the return of her personal property. 108. 21 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 willfully and without legal justification 22 interfered with Plaintiff’s right to own and possess her wages. Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 23 intentionally converted the wages and compensation of Plaintiff by taking and withholding the 24 earned wages and other compensation that was the property of Plaintiff, including her personal 25 property, and utilizing the same for Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s own use and benefits, 26 including to intentionally and deliberately maximize their profits at the expense of Plaintiff. 109. 27 28 The exact amount of wages is capable of being made certain from a review of either the information of Plaintiff and/or from the records of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50. 0001 -21COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 110. In refusing to pay wages to Plaintiff, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 2 unlawfully and intentionally took and converted the property of Plaintiff for their own use. This 3 conversation was oppressive, malicious, and fraudulent and was concealed from Plaintiff by 4 Defendant NFL an DOES 1 – 50. 111. 5 Plaintiff has been harmed by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s intentional 6 conversion of her wages and compensation, including by being deprived of the wages that she is 7 lawfully entitled to. Plaintiff is entitled to all wages and compensation converted by Defendant 8 NFL and DOES 1 – 50 in an amount subject to proof at trial, with interest thereon as well as any 9 and all profits, whether direct or indirect that Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 acquired by their 10 unlawful conversion. 112. 11 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through 12 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 13 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 14 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 15 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 16 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 17 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 18 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 19 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 20 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 21 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 22 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 23 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 24 TENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 25 Labor Code Violations Pursuant to the Private Attorney General’s Act 26 Labor Code §§ 2699 et. seq. 27 Against Defendant NFL and DOES 1- 50 113. 28 0001 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all -22COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 114. 2 Labor Code § 1102.5(b) prohibits employers from retaliating or terminating an 3 employee for disclosing information, or because the employer believes that the employee 4 disclosed or may disclose information, to a government or law enforcement agency, to a person 5 with authority over the employee or another employee who has the authority to investigate, 6 discover, or correct the violation or non-compliance regardless of whether disclosing the 7 information is part of the employee’s job duties. 115. 8 9 Labor Code § 1102.5(c) prohibits employers from retaliating against an employee for the employee’s refusal to participate in an activity that would result in a violation of state or 10 federal statute, or a violation of or noncompliance with a local, state, or federal rule or 11 regulation. 116. 12 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 violated Labor Code § 1102.5 by terminating 13 Plaintiff’s employment because Plaintiff communicated what she reasonably believes to be 14 illegal conduct by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50’s employees that was endorsed by 15 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50. 117. 16 Pursuant to Labor Code § 2699 et. seq. Plaintiff, on behalf of herself and other 17 similarly aggrieved employees, seeks to recover civil penalties, as otherwise provided by statute, 18 for which Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 are liable as a result of their violations of the above- 19 mentioned Labor Code sections in an amount to be proven at trial. 118. 20 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 21 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to sustain 22 substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential economic 23 losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 119. 24 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 25 conduct of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, emotional 26 distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount according to 27 proof at the time of trial. 120. 28 0001 The above described acts by Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, by and through -23COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, callous, 2 fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts were 3 despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil Code § 4 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 were guilty of 5 oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to employees of 6 Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by Defendant NFL and DOES 7 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the employees and they were employed with a 8 conscious disregard for the rights of others; or Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or 9 ratified the wrongful conduct; or there was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, 10 authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director 11 or managing agent of Defendant NFL and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of 12 exemplary and punitive damages in an amount to be proven at the time of trial. 121. 13 14 Plaintiff has also incurred and continued to incur attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 15 ELEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION 16 Defamation 17 Against Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 122. 18 19 Plaintiff realleges and incorporates by reference as though fully set forth herein all preceding paragraphs contained in this Complaint. 123. 20 Plaintiff is informed and believes Defendants NFL, LEE and DOES 1 – 50, and 21 each of them, by the herein described acts, conspired to, and in fact, did negligently, recklessly, 22 and intentionally caused excessive and unsolicited internal and external publications of 23 defamation, of and concerning Plaintiff, to third persons and to the community. These false and 24 defamatory statements included express and implied: accusations that Plaintiff violated company 25 policies, stole company property, and nobody should work with her. These and other similar 26 false statements expressly and impliedly stated that Plaintiff was a dishonest and bad employee. 124. 27 28 While the precise dates of these publications are not known to Plaintiff, she recently discovered and is informed and believes the publications may have started on or after 0001 -24COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 October 10, 2016, for the improper purpose of retaliating against her for her above said 2 complaints about Labor Code violations. These publications were outrageous, negligent, 3 reckless, intentional, and maliciously published and republished by Defendants NFL, LEE, and 4 DOES 1 – 50, and each of them. Plaintiff is informed and believes that the negligent, reckless, 5 and intentional publications by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, were 6 and continue to be, foreseeably published and republished by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 7 1 – 50, their agents and employees, and recipients in the community. Plaintiff hereby seeks 8 damages for these publications and all foreseeable republications discovered up to the time of 9 trial. 125. 10 During the above-described time frame, Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 11 50, and each of them, conspired to, and in fact, did negligently, reckless and intentionally cause 12 excessive and unsolicited publication of defamation, of and concerning Plaintiff, to third persons, 13 who had no need or desire to know. Those third person(s) to whom Defendants NFL, LEE, and 14 DOES 1 – 50 published this defamation are believed to include, but are not limited to, other 15 agents and employees of Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and vendors and the 16 community, all of whom are known to Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of 17 them, but unknown at this time to Plaintiff. 126. 18 The defamatory publications consisted of oral and written, knowingly false and 19 unprivileged communications, tending directly to injure Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s personal, 20 business and professional reputation. These publications included the following false and 21 defamatory statements (in violation of Civil Code §§ 45 and 46) with the meaning and/or 22 substance that Plaintiff: violated company policies, stole company property, and nobody should 23 work with her. These and similar statements published by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 24 50, and each of them, expressly and impliedly asserted that Plaintiff was a dishonest and bad 25 employee. 127. 26 Plaintiff is informed, believes, and fears that these false and defamatory per se 27 statements will continue to be published by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each 28 of them, and will be foreseeably republished by their recipients, all to the ongoing harm and 0001 -25COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 injury to Plaintiff’s business, professional, and personal reputations. Plaintiff also seeks redress 2 in this action for all foreseeable republications, including her own compelled self-publication of 3 these defamatory statements. 128. 4 The defamatory meaning of all of the above-described false and defamatory 5 statements and their reference to Plaintiff, were understood by these above-referenced third 6 person recipients and other members of the community who are known to Defendants NFL, 7 LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, but unknown to Plaintiff at this time. 129. 8 9 None of Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50’s defamatory publications against Plaintiff referenced above are true. 130. 10 The above defamatory statements were understood as assertions of fact, and not 11 as opinion. Plaintiff is informed and believes that this defamation will continue to be negligently, 12 recklessly, and intentionally published and foreseeably republished by Defendants NFL, LEE, 13 and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, and foreseeably republished by recipients of Defendants 14 NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50’s publications, thereby causing additional injury and damages for 15 which Plaintiff seeks redress by this action. 131. 16 Each of these false defamatory per se publications (as set forth above) were 17 negligently, recklessly, and intentionally published in a manner equaling malice and abuse of any 18 alleged conditional privilege (which Plaintiff denies existed), since the publications, and each of 19 them were made with hatred, ill will, and an intent to vex, harass, annoy, and injure Plaintiff in 20 order to justify the illegal and cruel actions of Defendant, NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each 21 of them, to cause further damage to Plaintiff’s professional and personal reputation, and to 22 retaliate against Plaintiff for prior ill will, rivalry, and disputes in retaliation for her objections to 23 Labor Code violations. 132. 24 Each of these publications by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each 25 of them were made with knowledge that no investigation supported the unsubstantiated and 26 obviously false statements. Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 published these statements 27 knowing them to be false, unsubstantiated by any reasonable investigation and the product of 28 hostile witnesses. These acts of publication were known by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 0001 -26COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 – 50, and each of them, to be negligent to such a degree as to be reckless. In fact, not only did 2 Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, have no reasonable basis to believe 3 these statements, but they also had no belief in the truth of these statements, and in fact knew the 4 statements to be false. Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, excessively, 5 negligently, and recklessly published these statements to individuals with no need to know, and 6 who made no inquiry, and who had a mere general or idle curiosity of this information. 133. 7 The above complained of publications by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 8 50, and each of them, were made with hatred and ill will towards Plaintiff and the design and 9 intent to injure Plaintiff, Plaintiff’s good name, her reputation, employment and employability. 10 Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, and each of them, published these statements, not with 11 an intent to protect any interest intended to be protected by any privilege, but with negligence, 12 recklessness, and/or an intent to injure Plaintiff and destroy her reputation. Therefore, no 13 privilege existed to protect Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 from liability for any of 14 these aforementioned publications or republications. 134. 15 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 16 conduct of Defendants NFL, LEE and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to 17 sustain substantial losses in earnings and other employment benefits, and other consequential 18 economic losses, in an amount according to proof at the time of trial. 135. 19 As a direct, foreseeable and proximate result of the aforementioned wrongful 20 conduct of Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, Plaintiff has suffered humiliation, 21 emotional distress and mental and physical pain and anguish, all to her damage in an amount 22 according to proof at the time of trial. 136. 23 The above described acts by Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, by and 24 through their managing agents, officers or directors, were engaged in with deliberate, cold, 25 callous, fraudulent, and intentional manner in order to injure and damage Plaintiff. Such acts 26 were despicable, and constitute malice, fraud and/or oppression within the meaning of Civil 27 Code § 3294. In doing the things herein alleged, Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 were 28 guilty of oppression, fraud and malice, and insofar as the things alleged were attributable to 0001 -27COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 employees of Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50, said employees were employed by 2 Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 with advance knowledge of the unfitness of the 3 employees and they were employed with a conscious disregard for the rights of others; or 4 Defendants NFL, LEE, and DOES 1 – 50 authorized or ratified the wrongful conduct; or there 5 was advance knowledge, conscious disregard, authorization, ratification or act of oppression, 6 fraud or malice on the part of an officer, director or managing agent of Defendants NFL, LEE, 7 and DOES 1 – 50, all entitling Plaintiff to the recovery of exemplary and punitive damages in an 8 amount to be proven at the time of trial. PRAYER FOR RELIEF 9 WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully prays for judgment in her favor and against 10 11 Defendants, and each of them as follows: 12 1. That Plaintiff be awarded general damages according to proof; 13 2. That Plaintiff be awarded special and compensatory damages, including but not 14 limited to, loss of wages, salary, benefits, back pay, front pay, future lost income and benefits, 15 and other economic losses, in an amount according to proof at trial, but in excess of the 16 minimum jurisdictional requirements of the Court; 17 3. That Plaintiff be awarded costs of suit incurred herein; 18 4. That Plaintiff be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees where available by law, 19 including without limitation, pursuant to Government Code § 12900 et. seq., California Code of 20 Civil Procedure § 1021.5, Labor Code §§ 218.5, 2699 et. seq., and any other applicable law; 21 22 5. That Plaintiff be awarded prejudgment and post-judgment interest as available by 6. On Plaintiff’s Eighth Cause of Action, that Plaintiff be awarded civil penalties, law; 23 24 legal costs, and attorneys’ fees owed pursuant to Labor Code §§ 203, 218.5, 558, and the 25 statutory authorities cited therein; 7. 26 For a declaration and Order thereon that Defendants may also be aware of its 27 obligations under the law to not engage in discriminatory practices and violate the law as it 28 relates to California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act; 0001 -28COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 2 8. For any and all injunctive relief this court deems necessary in order to effectuate Defendants’ compliance with California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act; 9. 3 For an order enjoining Defendants from continuing to engage in the 4 aforementioned unlawful business practices in violation of California’s Fair Employment and 5 Housing Act; 10. 6 7 & Professions Code § 17203; 11. 8 9 10 That Defendants be ordered and enjoined to pay restitution to Plaintiff, due to Defendants’ unlawful, unfair and fraudulent activities, pursuant to Business and Professions Code §§ 17200 – 17205; 12. 11 12 For any and all injunctive relief this court deems necessary pursuant to Business That Defendants further be enjoined to cease and desist from unlawful activities in violation of Business and Professions Code § 17200 et. seq.; 13. 13 For disgorgement through restitution of all ill-gotten and/or ill-gained profits, 14 including unpaid wages, premiums and/or penalties, resulting from Defendants unfair business 15 practices pursuant to Business and Professions Code §§ 17200 – 17205; 16 14. For interest under Labor Code §§ 218.6 and 226; and 17 15. That Plaintiff be awarded such other and further relief as this Court may deem just 18 and proper. 19 20 DATED: December 11, 2017 HORTON LAW FIRM, APC 21 22 By: ______________________________ Laura L. Horton Flor C. Dery Attorneys for Plaintiff, Jami L. Cantor 23 24 25 26 /// 27 /// 28 /// 0001 -29COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES 1 JURY TRIAL DEMANDED 2 Plaintiff, JAMI L. CANTOR, hereby demands a trial by jury. 3 4 DATED: December 11, 2017 HORTON LAW FIRM, APC 5 6 By: ______________________________ Laura L. Horton Flor C. Dery Attorneys for Plaintiff, Jami L. Cantor 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 0001 -30COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES