The New York Times CEO Mark Thompson, and other top leaders were slapped with a federal lawsuit on Thursday alleging that the executives created “a culture of deplorable discrimination” based on age, race and gender. The Times is already firing back calling the lawsuit completely unjustified.
The class action lawsuit seeking millions of dollars, was filed by two older black females, and first obtained by The Guardian. The attorneys allege that the Times unfairly favors staff members who are young, white and not tied down by family. The lawsuit could include a class of up to 50 similar women who claim that the Times created a workplace “rife with disparities,” according attorneys.
Eileen Murphy, head of the newspaper’s communications office, released this statement to The Guardian:
“This lawsuit contains a series of recycled, scurrilous and unjustified attacks on both Mark Thompson and Meredith Levien. It also completely distorts the realities of the work environment at the New York Times. We strongly disagree with any claim that The Times, Mr. Thompson, or Ms. Levien have discriminated against any individual or group of employees. The suit is entirely without merit and we intend to fight it vigorously in court.”