A U.S. District Judge has denied Meta’s request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Kelly Stonelake, an early employee who alleges sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation during her tenure at the company from 2009 to early 2024.
Judge Barbara Rothstein, overseeing the case in Washington, ruled that parts of Stonelake’s suit had merit, allowing the case to proceed. Stonelake, in a statement to TechCrunch, expressed hope that the ruling would encourage others who have experienced discrimination and toxic workplace cultures to pursue justice through the courts.
Her lawsuit, initially filed in Washington state, was moved to federal court where Meta subsequently sought its dismissal, arguing the claims were legally insufficient. Meta has declined to comment on the lawsuit or the judge’s decision.
In her complaint, Stonelake alleges that Meta failed to act after she reported sexual assault and harassment incidents. She further claims she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of male colleagues and faced retaliation for flagging a video game she believed was racist and harmful to minors.
Stonelake contends that these alleged conditions significantly damaged her mental health, necessitating medical treatment. She stated in February that her motivation for filing the lawsuit was to hold Meta accountable for what she describes as a pattern of abuse within the company, emphasizing the potential for harm that tech companies like Meta possess.
In its motion to dismiss, Meta argued that Stonelake failed to present viable claims and that her allegations of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation fell outside the statute of limitations set by the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). However, Judge Rothstein partially rejected this argument in documents filed on August 21.
The judge determined that portions of Stonelake’s claims regarding retaliation, failure to promote, and sexual harassment were sufficient to proceed. Nevertheless, the judge dismissed other specific claims related to additional allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge.
Stonelake’s request to amend the filing was also denied. Both Stonelake and Meta are now required to file a joint status report by mid-September.
Stonelake’s allegations are among several high-profile accusations Meta has recently faced. Shortly after Stonelake filed her lawsuit, Sarah Wynn-Williams, former head of public policy for Facebook, released her memoir “Careless People,” detailing alleged sexual harassment by her supervisor and subsequent retaliation after she reported him.
Meta denied Wynn-Williams’ allegations. Wynn-Williams is currently prohibited from marketing her book after a judge sided with Meta, determining she likely violated her non-disclosure agreement by writing it.
