Khloé Kardashian's clothing company Good American and her business partner Emma Grede are embroiled in a legal battle with a former employee who claims she was wrongfully terminated due to her medical needs. The ex-staffer, known only as Brooke, filed a lawsuit alleging cancer discrimination and intentional infliction of emotional distress after her requests for health accommodations were deemed an "undue burden" on the business.
According to legal documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Brooke was hired by Good American in 2019 and consistently received positive performance reviews. However, in June 2023, she provided management with a doctor's note stating that she needed to work from home because she was "immune compromised and sick" due to her cancer treatment.
Brooke alleges that she immediately faced negative feedback from her bosses, who told her that her requests were "undermining the organization." She was urged to take medical leave instead of working remotely and was eventually fired, despite submitting a second doctor's note to support her need for accommodations.
In response to the lawsuit, Good American and Grede have filed a legal response denying all allegations of wrongdoing. The court documents state, "Any acts or omissions by Defendants were not a proximate cause of any injuries alleged by Plaintiff," and argue that the actions taken by the fashion company were done "out of business necessity" and "in good faith for legitimate non-discriminatory reasons."
The company further contends that "Plaintiff's claims for failure to accommodate are barred because it would have been an undue burden to provide an accommodation to Plaintiff." They have requested that the lawsuit be dropped and have petitioned for the former employee to pay their legal fees.
Brooke's lawsuit claims that she was wrongfully terminated one month after informing her bosses of her need to work remotely due to her cancer treatments. She was allegedly told that her termination was part of a company-wide "layoff," but she maintains that no one else in her department was laid off.
The ex-employee is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged discrimination, while Good American and Grede argue that "Plaintiff is barred from claiming any injuries or damages because such injuries and damages are the sole, direct and proximate result of Plaintiff's conduct."
This legal battle comes just months after Khloé Kardashian publicly declared that she was going to be "manifesting greatness" for herself in 2024. In a series of posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) in January, the reality star wrote, "I don't know who cares but 2024 is going to be my f------ year! I feel it!!! Newness is coming!!!!!"
She added, "I've been taking time to get the old me but the better version back and guess the f--- what... She's here. I'm willing to share my year with you, and anyone else who wants to claim it. There is enough to go around! Let's all be happy and thriving."
As the legal dispute between Good American and its former employee unfolds, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the allegations of wrongful termination and cancer discrimination. The case highlights the challenges faced by employees with serious medical conditions who require accommodations in the workplace and the potential legal ramifications for companies that fail to provide them.
Khloé Kardashian, who is not a named defendant in the lawsuit, has yet to comment publicly on the matter. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for Good American's reputation and its approach to accommodating employees with medical needs in the future.
