Former Zuckerberg Security Operations Assistant Makes Discrimination, Harassent and Retaliation Claims
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A former Security Operations Assistant in the employ of Limitless Specialty Services LLC, the company that provides the staff for the personal and household needs of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, filed a lawsuit claiming she was persistently harassed on the job. Her claims also included discrimination, retaliation and other employment law violations.
The Case: Mia King v. Zuckerberg, Chan, MPPR Associates LLC,et al
The Court: Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco
The Case No.: CGC-21-595332
The Plaintiff: Mia King v. Zuckerberg, Chan, MPPR Associates LLC,et al
Mia King, the plaintiff, is described as a black woman and member of the LGBTQ community who was employed as a Security Operations Assistant for Limitless Specialty Services LLC. Limitless Specialty Services LLC works with the Zuckerberg family, and a string of other corporate entities allegedly tied to Chan-Zuckerberg and Limitless Specialty to provide security services for the Zuckerberg family. King was employed from May 2018 through February 2019. After she was fired from her position, King filed a lawsuit alleging racial, gender, sexual orientation and disability harassment.
The Defendant: Mia King v. Zuckerberg, Chan, MPPR Associates LLC,et al
The Defendants listed in the case, Mark Zuckerberg, Priscilla Chan, and several others associated with the employment of staff managing the couple’s personal and household affairs. According to court documents filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, the employees were allegedly subjected to a variety of employment law violations including: racial, gender, sexual orientation and disability discrimination and harassment, wage theft, other illegal employment practices, retaliation and wrongful termination.
The Case: Mia King v. Zuckerberg, Chan, MPPR Associates LLC,et al
The lawsuit was filed on September 20, 2021 asking for compensatory and punitive damages of unspecified amounts and injunctive relief. If the allegations are found true, they call into question the conditions minorities and disabled employees are subjected to while working to protect and serve the Zuckerberg family. The Chan Zuckerberg family office spokesperson did offer a statement regarding the allegations claiming that the complaints were investigated, but could not be substantiated. According to the lawsuit, King’s supervisor regularly made comments insinuating she did not deserve her position, but her hiring was a result of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative’s diversity goals that required he hire a black woman. He also allegedly criticized her natural hair style describing it as “unprofessional” as well as frequently referring to her and other black individuals as “ghetto.” The supervisor also allegedly made other discriminatory remarks in the workplace that were derogatory and inappropriate, and repeatedly invoked negative, racially derogatory stereotypes about King, other employees and even Priscilla Chan. King claims she complained numerous times to supervisors, but nothing was done. In January 2019, King met with her supervisor for a performance evaluation. He praised her work, but denied her requests for overtime (for work already completed). He criticized several employees for reporting inappropriate comments he made. King claims she faced severe retaliation for complaints raised with upper management. On Feb. 14, 2019, the supervisor issued a formal disciplinary writeup against King claiming there was an insubordination. She claims she was also disciplined because when she reported her supervisor’s homophobic, sexist, and racist comments toward other employees in the workplace, she was exhibiting a “lack of discretion.” King complained about the retaliation to upper management on Feb. 19, 2019, and received notice the same day that her claims were unsubstantiated. She was fired the next day on Feb. 20, 2021.
If you have questions about California employment law or if you need to file a wrongful termination lawsuit, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in various law firm offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.
