Lyle v. Warner Brothers Television Productions

In Lyle v. Warner Brothers Television Productions (2006) 38 Cal.4th 264, a comedy writer's assistant asserted a harassment claim against her employer, which produced a popular television comedy show. (Lyle, supra, 38 Cal.4th at pp. 271-272.) The assistant alleged that the coarse and sexually-charged discussions among the show's comedy writers as they developed scripts created a hostile work environment. (Ibid.) Our Supreme Court concluded that summary judgment had been properly granted on her claim, reasoning that she failed to show that the writers' offensive remarks or antics were specifically aimed at her or other female employees. (Id. at pp. 286-294.)