A U.S. judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by former Meta employee Kelly Stonelake against the tech giant will move forward, rejecting the company’s attempt to have the case dismissed.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein found that parts of Stonelake’s claims, including allegations of retaliation, failure to promote, and sexual harassment, were legally sufficient to proceed. Other specific claims of harassment, retaliation, and wrongful discharge were dismissed, and Stonelake’s request to amend her filing was denied.
Stonelake, who joined Meta (then Facebook) in 2009 and was laid off in early 2024, filed the lawsuit earlier this year in Washington state. Her claims include sexual harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation. She alleges that Meta ignored reports of sexual assault and harassment, passed her over for promotions in favor of male colleagues, and retaliated against her after she flagged a video game she believed to be racist and harmful to minors.
“Meta has the opportunity to do harm on a scale that only tech companies can,” Stonelake said in February, when explaining her decision to pursue legal action. Following the court’s latest ruling, she added: “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.”
Meta declined to comment on the ruling. In its earlier motion to dismiss, the company argued that Stonelake’s claims were legally insufficient and outside the statute of limitations under Washington’s anti-discrimination laws.
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The case will now proceed to the next stage, with Stonelake and Meta expected to submit a joint status report in mid-September.
This lawsuit adds to the growing list of high-profile allegations against Meta. Recently, Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former public policy executive, published a memoir alleging harassment and retaliation during her time at the company. Meta denied those claims, and a judge has since restricted her from marketing the book, ruling that she likely breached a non-disclosure agreement.
