Judge dismisses some claims in case alleging BlackBerry CEO harassed former staffer
Global News
U.S. magistrate judge Sallie Kim granted BlackBerry and John Giamatteo's request late Friday to throw out a claim that they fostered a "hostile" work environment.
A U.S. court has dismissed three claims made by a former BlackBerry Ltd. employee who alleges the company’s chief executive sexually harassed her and then retaliated against her after she reported the behaviour.
U.S. magistrate judge Sallie Kim granted BlackBerry and John Giamatteo’s request late Friday to throw out a claim that they fostered a “hostile” work environment because the former employee failed to present evidence that BlackBerry and Giamatteo’s behaviour was pervasive or severe.
The judge also dismissed claims the former employee made about alleged discrimination in its pay practices and its ability to promptly issue wages, saying the plaintiff failed to state a claim.
While the judge said the United States District Court for the Northern District of California “largely agrees” with BlackBerry, she said it would allow the plaintiff to amend her complaint to provide additional details supporting her allegations against Giamatteo and the Waterloo, Ont.-based tech company.
BlackBerry spokesperson Anthony Harrison says the company was pleased to see the court’s ruling and looks forward to “vigorously defending” itself against the remainder of the plaintiff’s claims, which he says are “unfounded.”
Spokespeople and lawyers for the plaintiff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The plaintiff, known in court documents as Jane Doe, is a woman of colour who worked at BlackBerry for more than 10 years.
She filed a claim against the company and Giamatteo in April, alleging the chief executive had “tried to get close to her” and “woo” her, after he became the president of BlackBerry’s cybersecurity business in October 2021.
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