Netflix is being sued by another legacy media company for their hiring practices, this time by Viacom over its hiring of Momita SenGupta.<\/b>
\nNetflix is being sued by Viacom over its hiring practices after the streaming giant hired an employee that was still under contract with the company.
Last week, Netflix hired 10-year Viacom vet Momita SenGupta as VP of physical production for its original series. Now, Viacom has said that Netflix \u201csought her out and knowingly and deliberately induced her to breach her employment contract,\u201d in a suit filed on Oct. 5 in L.A. Superior Court.
SenGupta\u2019s contract wasn\u2019t set to expire until April 2020.
Also Read: Netflix Q3 Earnings Preview: Can ‘Ozark,’ ‘Black Panther’ Drive International Growth?
\u201cNetflix has signaled that it has no intention of complying with the law, and that its illegal attempts to induce Viacom employees to break their contracts without consequence will not be limited to SenGupta,\u201d Viacom attorney Anthony J. Oncidi, wrote in the suit. \u201cNetflix\u2019s tortuous interference with an enforceable term employment agreement is neither trailblazing nor innovative \u2014 rather, it\u2019s just another example of Netflix\u2019s utter contempt for the law of the State of California.\u201d
Viacom is seeking an injunction that would bar Netflix from hiring its employees while they are under contract, as well as compensatory and punitive damages.
\u201cWe believe the employment contracts we use are valid under California law, and that other companies may not solicit and induce employees to break them,\u201d said Viacom a statement emailed to TheWrap. \u201cWe think Netflix should be required to play by the same rules as every other company doing business in California, and we are taking the steps necessary to ensure they do.\u201d
Also Read: Netflix to Buy ABQ Studios in Albuquerque, Bring $1 Billion in Production
\u201cNetflix intends to vigorously defend against this action as we believe this contract as well as the legacy studio employment practices underlying it create unenforceable obligations under California law,\u201d said Netflix in its own statement.
Two years ago, 20th Century Fox sued Netflix for the same thing when it hired Marcos Waltenberg and Tara Flynn before their contracts expired. Netflix\u2019s defense rests on the argument that Fox\u2019s contracts aren\u2019t enforceable under California law. That case is set to go to trial next year.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this story.<\/p>\n

\n

Similarity rank: 2.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: -0.6<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n