Employment Law:Hit Show “House” former Employee Sues NBC Universal for Wrongful Termination

July 21, 2010

Los Angeles – A former employee of the hit TV show “House” has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in the LA County Superior Court against NBC Universal and two supervisors.

Carl Jones, who worked as an assistant prop master on the TV show, claimed he was terminated because he refused to engage and go along with “degenerate conducts” of his supervisors.

He also claims that he was continually harassed by the two supervisors for not participating in unethical activities such as getting drunk, using cocaine, visiting strip bars, engaging in sexual conduct at the trailer, and other dangerous behaviors.

Jones claims that because of his and other employee’s refusal, they were referred to in various derogatory terms such as “fags, pussies, bitches, slaves, dummies, retards, and idiots.”

Jones also added that one of the supervisors brought a gun in the set several times.

He also included another incident where the supervisors engaged in “"throwing a knife at a target on set" while drinking tequila.

Jones said that he tried to inform the actions of the supervisors to a co-executive producer of the show but his complaints were ignored and he was “blackballed” from future work with the hit TV show.

Jones alleged that he even sustained some physical injury from one of the incidents and he suffered from severe depression after he was terminated.

He is now asking for $1,000,000 in damages.

A spokesperson for NBC Universal told entertainment website TMZ that Jones lawsuit is without merit.

The spokesperson also added, “It is NBCU's long-standing policy to provide a working environment free from discrimination or harassment of any kind. We also strictly prohibit retaliation or reprisal against anyone who reports or opposes discrimination or harassment."