FOX CORPORATION; GEORGE MURDOCH (A/K/A “TYRUS”); JENNIFER RAUCHET; JOHN FINLEY; and MONICA MEKEEL
Case 1:19-cv-11294-PAE Document 75 Filed 12/18/20 Page 1 of 48 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK BRITTANY MCHENRY, Plaintiff, 19 Civ. 11294 (PAE) -v- OPINION & ORDER FOX NEWS NETWORK, LLC; FOX CORPORATION; GEORGE MURDOCH (A/K/A “TYRUS”); JENNIFER RAUCHET; JOHN FINLEY; and MONICA MEKEEL, Defendants. PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, District Judge: This case involves claims of sexual harassment brought by a television personality. Plaintiff Brittany McHenry (“McHenry”) alleges that, while employed as such on a Fox News Network, LLC (“Fox News”) show, she was subjected to sexual harassment by her co-host, George Murdoch (“Murdoch”). She further alleges that as a result of reporting this harassment, she was subjected to retaliation by Fox News, its parent corporation, Fox Corporation (“Fox Corp.”), and Murdoch. McHenry brings claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation under the New York State Human Rights Law, New York State Executive Law § 296 et seq. (“NYSHRL”) and the New York City Human Rights Law, New York City Administrative Code § 8-502(a) et seq. (“NYCHRL”). McHenry further alleges that three officials at Fox News Channel—John Finley (“Finley”), a Vice President; Monika Mekeel (“Mekeel”), a Human Resources representative; and Jennifer Rauchet (“Rauchet”), an executive producer—aided and abetted the sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Fox News has not moved to dismiss the claims against it. But the Court has received two such motions: one from Fox Corp., Finley, Mekeel, and Rauchet; and the other from Murdoch. Case 1:19-cv-11294-PAE Document 75 Filed 12/18/20 Page 2 of 48 For the following reasons, the Court grants the motion to dismiss the claims against Fox Corp., Finley, and Mekeel; grants in part and denies in part the motion to dismiss the claims against Rauchet; and denies in its entirety Murdoch’s motion to dismiss.
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