Oprah's Network Hit with Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey's network OWN is being sued by a former employee on the grounds of sex and pregnancy discrimination, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
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Carolyn Hommel filed suit against OWN on Friday, claiming that she was replaced when she was forced to take medical leave while pregnant. Hommel was hired in 2010 as senior director of scheduling and acquisitions at the network. According to Hommel, she was on track to become vice president, but during her leave, her duties were given to a temporary employee. When she returned to the office, Hommel also claims that she was excluded from numerous meetings. A month after giving birth, on March 19, 2012, Hommel was fired.
After receiving encouragement, she applied for the vice president job, but Hommel claims that her former boss Michael Garner's performance review misrepresented her duties, making her seem under-qualified for the vice president position.
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According to Hommel, these actions were a result of her pregnancy and ensuing medical leave. She is seeking unspecified damages.