Former Lionsgate Director Sues for Pregnancy Discrimination After Termination

A former Director of Development for Renegade Entertainment, a subsidiary of Lionsgate, has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing the entertainment giant of sex and pregnancy discrimination. Susan Merwin, who worked with Renegade, alleges that her employment was unlawfully terminated while on maternity leave. The complaint, filed on October 8, claims her role was given to a less experienced subordinate during her leave despite assurances that her job had been eliminated.

In her suit, Merwin alleges that the development department at Renegade, which produces shows such as Naked and Afraid, was run like a “boy’s club,” with women routinely excluded from meetings and decision-making processes. The complaint names Lionsgate, Renegade Entertainment LLC, and Renegade 83 Inc. as defendants and seeks damages for wrongful termination, retaliation, and violation of California’s Family Rights Act (CFRA).

Merwin claims that after she informed her supervisor, Bob Kusbit, of her pregnancy in late 2023, she noticed a shift in attitude. Despite her exemplary performance, she says she was subjected to discriminatory treatment, including being left out of key meetings. She officially began her approved maternity leave in May 2024 following the birth of her son, Julian. However, in June 2024, shortly after her leave commenced, Merwin discovered that her subordinate, Katy Sartain, had been promoted to her role as Director of Development—a position Merwin had held since April 2022.

According to the complaint, Sartain’s promotion occurred despite her relative inexperience compared to Merwin. The suit points out that Sartain had only been with Renegade since 2018 and primarily worked in subordinate roles prior to her promotion. Merwin, in contrast, had over a decade of industry experience with several well-known production companies, including Fremantle USA and Fishbowl Worldwide.

In August 2024, Kusbit and Lionsgate HR representative Tanya Khazaie contacted Merwin under the pretense of a “catch-up” meeting. Merwin alleges that during this call, she was informed that her role had been eliminated and that her employment was terminated despite her ongoing maternity leave. Her IT access was immediately revoked, and she was asked to return company property. However, she later learned through LinkedIn that Sartain had officially taken over her role as early as June, contradicting the claim that her position had been eliminated.

Merwin asserts that her termination was directly linked to her pregnancy and maternity leave, which is protected under both California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the California Family Rights Act. The lawsuit claims that her firing was retaliatory and intended to penalize her for exercising her legal right to maternity leave.

The complaint details multiple causes of action, including:

• Sex and Pregnancy Discrimination under FEHA (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12940(a)),
• Violation of the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12945),
• Retaliation in Violation of CFRA (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12945.2),
• Failure to Prevent Discrimination (Cal. Gov’t Code § 12940(k)),
• Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy.

Merwin’s attorneys argue that Lionsgate failed to adhere to its public commitments to diversity and inclusion, accusing the company of promoting a discriminatory culture. In her suit, Merwin seeks compensatory damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and punitive damages to deter future discriminatory behavior by the company.

Lionsgate has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. However, in similar cases, the entertainment conglomerate has maintained that it adheres to strict policies promoting equity and fairness in the workplace. Renegade Entertainment, known for producing unscripted television content, has also remained silent regarding the allegations.