Judge allows Mo'Nique's pay dispute lawsuit against Netflix to proceed

The Hollywood Reporter

A judge authored a novel decision concerning the lack of "good faith" negotiations in his ruling Thursday in favor of the Oscar-winning comedian, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mo'Nique says Netflix initially offered her only $500,000 for a 2017 Netflix special and questioned why a comedian like Amy Schumer was worth $12,500,000 more. "The Court notes that Mo'Nique raises a novel theory here, namely that an employer's failure to negotiate an 'opening offer' in good faith, consistent with its alleged customary practice which typically leads to increased compensation, constitutes an 'adverse employment action' for purposes of a retaliation claim," states the decision. "While Netflix argues that the novelty of Mo'Nique's claim and the absence of on-point legal authority for it should bar her retaliation claims outright, the Court disagrees."