Judge dismisses PlayStation gender discrimination lawsuit over lack of evidence

A lawsuit alleging gender discrimination was filed PlayStation was dismissed for lack of sufficient detail to support plaintiff’s claims.

The lawsuit was first filed in November alleging this Sony “Deliberately violating” labor laws by “deliberately, knowingly, and/or intentionally paying women less than men for substantially the same or similar work.” A US judge has now dismissed “without prejudice” 10 of 13 lawsuits brought by former Sony employee Emma Majo, including those alleging wage discrimination and harassment, Axios reports.

Axios says Majo can change the claims and try to refile the lawsuit, but the verdict claims she didn’t provide enough evidence. In particular with regard to alleged violations of the Equal Pay Act.

Laurel Beeler, the judge on the case, said, “This complaint is dismissed because the plaintiff has presented only the elements of the complaint and has not asserted any specific facts.” Beeler continued, “For example, she does not describe her work or how her work is essentially the work of a man who allegedly paid more than she was paid.” However, Majo can still seek to sue Sony over three claims involving wrongful termination and breach of whistleblower protections.

Since the lawsuit was first filed, eight other women have come forward to speak out against Sony’s alleged gender discrimination. One of the claims made by one of those eight women, a 16-year Sony Online Entertainment and Sony Playstation veteran, claimed that during “calibration sessions” women are not considered for leadership roles as much as men.

According to Axios, the lawsuit could get even bigger, although Majo’s original lawsuit was dismissed. Beeler cited the eight women’s statements, noting that the statements “could give rise to new allegations.” Majo also wanted to turn her lawsuit into a class-action lawsuit on behalf of women who worked for PlayStation, with Beeler denying Sony’s attempts to hit her.