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FOLLOW-UP: CA Supreme Court To Hear 'Friends' Arguments

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
August 02, 2004

The Supreme Court of California has denied a petition for review by Amaani Lyle but granted defendant Warner Brothers Television Productions' petition in a suit filed by Lyle, a writers' assistant, over the atmosphere in the writers' room of the TV series “Friends.” Lyle v. Warner Brothers Television Productions, S125171. In its ruling, the supreme court noted that the issues to be briefed argued are: “1) Can the use of sexually coarse and vulgar language in the workplace constitute harassment based on sex within the meaning of the Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA)? (Gov. Code Sec. 12900 et seq.); and 2) Does the potential imposition of liability under FEHA for sexual harassment based on such speech infringe on defendants' right of free speech under the First Amendment or the state Constitution?”

The Supreme Court of California has denied a petition for review by Amaani Lyle but granted defendant Warner Brothers Television Productions' petition in a suit filed by Lyle, a writers' assistant, over the atmosphere in the writers' room of the TV series “Friends.” Lyle v. Warner Brothers Television Productions, S125171. In its ruling, the supreme court noted that the issues to be briefed argued are: “1) Can the use of sexually coarse and vulgar language in the workplace constitute harassment based on sex within the meaning of the Fair Employment & Housing Act (FEHA)? (Gov. Code Sec. 12900 et seq.); and 2) Does the potential imposition of liability under FEHA for sexual harassment based on such speech infringe on defendants' right of free speech under the First Amendment or the state Constitution?”

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