February 21, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAWSUIT CLAIMS GOOGLE’S NETWORKING FORUMS ARE A “CESSPOOL” OF HARASSMENT
San Francisco.
A lawsuit filed today claims that Google, Inc.’s internal social networking forums have

become a tool for widespread bullying and harassment of women, people of color and other
underrepresented groups at the tech giant. The lawsuit also accuses Google of firing an employee for
pushing back on the pervasive harassment.
Tim Chevalier, the software developer and computer scientist who filed the case, claims that Google fired

him when he responded forcefully to posts attacking women and people of color and expressing white
supremacist views. Chevalier, who is disabled and transgender, responded directly to the workplace
bullies by posting comments challenging the hostile work environment and refuting assertions that
women and people of color are biologically unsuited for software engineering, and that Google should
not actively recruit them.
According to the lawsuit, Chevalier’s posts also championed transgender and disabled rights, and raised
awareness about how Google’s culture excludes and discriminates against minorities. The lawsuit
alleges that Google chose to fire Chevalier for his comments instead of addressing the rampant
harassment and discrimination he was protesting.
Chevalier stated, “It is a cruel irony that Google attempted to justify firing me by claiming that my
social networking posts showed bias against my harassers. The anti-discrimination laws are meant to
protect marginalized and underrepresented groups- not those who attack them.”
Chevalier’s attorneys regularly represent tech employees in high profile discrimination and retaliation
cases. According to David Lowe, one of Chevalier’s attorneys at Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, LLP,
“Company social networking forums can be incredibly useful, but employers have an obligation to
prevent them from becoming a cesspool of bullying and harassment. Firing the employee who pushed
back against the bullies was exactly the wrong step to take.”
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, seeks damages for lost wages, emotional
distress, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
For a copy of the complaint, email Kristina Clark at kc@rezlaw.com.
PRESS CONTACT:

David A. Lowe
Rudy, Exelrod, Zieff & Lowe, LLP
(415) 394-6078 (direct)
dal@rezlaw.com