Judge denies Meta’s request to dismiss sexual harassment lawsuit filed by early employee

A federal judge has denied Meta's (formerly Facebook) request to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by an early employee. Stonelake, who worked at the company from 2009 until being laid off in 2024, filed the lawsuit in Washington state earlier this year, alleging sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation. The lawsuit claims that Stonelake was subjected to inappropriate comments and unwanted physical contact by a senior executive at the company. It also alleges that Stonelake faced retaliation and was eventually laid off after reporting the harassment. The judge's decision means that the case will now proceed to the next stage of litigation. Meta had sought to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the court ruled that Stonelake's claims were sufficient to move forward. This lawsuit is the latest in a series of high-profile allegations of misconduct and discrimination within the tech industry. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for Meta and its handling of workplace harassment issues.