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A federal judge has dealt a blow to Meta’s legal defense, ruling that parts of a discrimination and harassment lawsuit filed by one of the company’s earliest employees will proceed.
The case was brought by Kelly Stonelake, who joined Meta (then Facebook) in 2009 and remained there until her layoff in early 2024.
Earlier this year, she sued the tech giant in Washington state, alleging sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation.
Meta swiftly moved the case to federal court and asked for it to be thrown out, arguing her claims were both legally insufficient and past the statute of limitations.
But on August 21, US District Judge Barbara Rothstein partially sided with Stonelake.
In her ruling, Rothstein determined that several of Stonelake’s claims, including retaliation, failure to promote, and sexual harassment, were strong enough to survive Meta’s dismissal attempt.
Other aspects of the suit were struck down, and Stonelake was denied a chance to amend her filing, but the case is officially moving forward.
For Stonelake, the decision represents more than just a legal win. “I hope this ruling encourages others who have experienced discrimination and toxic workplace cultures to consider the courts as one way to push for justice and accountability,” she said in a statement to TechCrunch.
Her complaint paints a troubling picture of life inside Meta. She claims the company ignored reports of sexual assault, passed her over for promotions in favor of men, and retaliated against her after she criticized a video game she viewed as racist and harmful to minors.
The alleged treatment, she says, left her in medical care for mental health struggles.
“Meta has the opportunity to do harm on a scale that only tech companies can,” she told reporters in February. A joint status report from both parties is due in mid-September.
Stonelake’s lawsuit arrives amid broader scrutiny of Meta’s workplace culture. Just weeks after she filed, former executive Sarah Wynn-Williams released a memoir alleging harassment and retaliation at the company.
For Meta, the case marks yet another chapter in a growing list of high-profile challenges to its internal practices.
Will this lawsuit force Meta to address deeper cultural issues within the company, or will it simply become another legal settlement without meaningful change? Should tech companies face stricter oversight of their workplace practices given their massive influence on society? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.
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