Three former crew members have filed a lawsuit against The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Studios, and affiliated entities, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination on the set of the television series Doctor Odyssey.
The complaint, filed May 30 in Los Angeles Superior Court by prop department members Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland, and Ava Steinbrenner, accuses the production of cultivating a hostile work environment and failing to address repeated complaints about misconduct by Assistant Prop Master Tyler Patton.
According to the plaintiffs, Patton, who was hired to supervise them, regularly made lewd comments, engaged in inappropriate physical contact, and distributed explicit content during work hours. His behavior allegedly escalated after complaints were made, culminating in a text sent to the department’s group chat that linked to a pornographic image.
The lawsuit further states that Disney and its subsidiaries were aware of past sexual misconduct allegations against Patton, stemming from his time on the set of House, yet still chose to employ him in a supervisory role. Plaintiffs also allege that senior management, including Tammie Patton, failed to intervene, and that complaints to human resources were largely ignored for over two weeks.
In response to the internal complaints, the plaintiffs claim they were retaliated against by being assigned demeaning tasks, publicly reprimanded, and ultimately terminated under the guise of a “layoff.” They assert that shortly after their dismissal, new hires were brought in to replace them, contradicting the rationale for the job cuts. The lawsuit also alleges blacklisting, with one plaintiff reportedly being denied future employment opportunities with Disney-affiliated projects.
The lawsuit brings six causes of action: sexual harassment, failure to prevent harassment, retaliation under both the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Labor Code, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and negligent hiring and supervision.
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