Emmy winning production company sued by three former employees for alleged sexual harassment and alleged sexual assault, reports employment law firm Workplace Advocates

USA - English

• USA - English

LOS ANGELES, March 24, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Emmy-winning production company Vin Di Bona Productions and Fishbowl Worldwide Media are being sued for sexual harassment, sexual assault, and retaliation by three former female employees. Vin Di Bona Productions is best known for America's Funniest Home Videos, currently in its 27th year and broadcast in 193 countries. Both entities are headed by longtime Hollywood producer and Walk of Fame recipient Vin Di Bona.

The allegations, outlined in a 32-page complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, identified as case number 19STCV09487, contain detailed descriptions of sexual assault and sexual harassment directed at numerous female employees by producer Phil Shafran. The sexual assault allegations are currently being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The female employees allege that Vin Di Bona permitted a culture of sexual and racial harassment to exist, and took no disciplinary or other remedial action against serial harasser Phil Shafran. One employee alleges Mr. Shafran took her and other female employees into his office one by one, closed the door, and took "upskirt" photos of them with his phone while they were trying on a virtual reality headset at his request. The complaint also alleges that Mr. Shafran was known in the company as a serial harasser, and that one of the plaintiffs was told to pull her top up and flash Mr. Shafran when she went by his office.

All three employees allege they reported the harassment to numerous supervisors, managers, and even the Chief Financial Officer of Vin Di Bona Productions, Paul LaPointe. In response, the complaint alleges, the company offered to demote one of the victims, while taking no action against Mr. Shafran.

All three women allege that they were retaliated against for reporting the harassment, including being ostracized by coworkers and supervisors, and ultimately resulting in the termination of their employment.

The plaintiffs are all represented by Barbara Figari Cowan of Workplace Advocates. Ms. Figari Cowan is an Executive Board Member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), who has dedicated her entire career to the representation of employees who are victims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation perpetrated by their employer, and has represented employees of large companies including Uber, NBCUniversal, and American Apparel. Ms. Figari Cowan stated that "It is disappointing that in the wake of the #MeToo movement that arose in large part out of egregious sexual harassment in the industry, a Hollywood film company would allow a new generation of women to be subjected to the same disgusting conduct, and act once again to protect the perpetrator, rather than his victims."

The plaintiffs are seeking, among other items, an injunction that would require Vin Di Bona and its related companies to investigate all complaints of harassment and take appropriate remedial action against Mr. Shafran and any other known perpetrators of sexual harassment.

"It is 2019. This industry has the chance to broadcast to America the right thing to do in response to complaints of sexual harassment. Enough is enough," said Ms. Figari Cowan. The complaint has been filed using the names Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, and Jane Doe 3 to protect the identities of the victims and the integrity of the investigation being conducted by LAPD.

SOURCE Workplace Advocates