Connie K.
2009-10-08 04:57:08 UTC
http://www.xbiznewswire.com/view.php?id=113517
Playboy Settles Suit Over Christy Canyons Radio Sex Acts
By Rhett Pardon, XBIZ.com
Wed, Oct 07 2009 11:15am PDT
LOS ANGELES Playboy has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by
a former Night Calls producer who alleged that the host repeatedly
demanded on-air to ass-wax her.
Former producer Terri Hughes said in her suit that Christy Canyon
repeatedly made this demand throughout the three-hour show, forcing
plaintiff to repeatedly refuse, and that she created a hostile work
environment because Hughes is black.
Attorney Michael Fattorosi, who represented Hughes, filed dismissal
papers Sept. 25 at Los Angeles Superior Court, and Playboy recently
withdrew its motion for summary judgment, which argued that Canyon
made no demand at all for an ass-waxing and that her behavior did
not result in sexual harassment.
Fattorosi was unavailable for XBIZ comment Wednesday morning.
The settlement, which was not disclosed, avoids a jury weighing the
fate of the case. The trial was to begin yesterday.
Besides Playboy, Hughes also named in her complaint Farrell Hirsch, a
Playboy Radio executive producer, and Canyon, whose real name is
Melissa Conway.
Hughes worked on Night Calls from January 2008 until August 2008,
when she resigned. After she exited, she filed complaints against
Playboy, Canyon and Hirsch with the state Department of Fair
Employment and Housing, exhausting her administrative remedies. The
agency advised Hughes to file suit.
Playboy, in an earlier filing, said that Night Calls is a show about
sex. It is hosted by former adult film stars who talk vividly about
sex, and it is designed to appeal to listeners' sexual fantasies.
Playboy also said that Hughes aka Sexy Terri on the show took
part in at least one Wax My Ass segment on Night Calls with
Canyon, and that she was a knowing and active participant.
But Hughes said that Canyon went beyond company policy on sexual
harassment even after Playboy tightened allowable behavior on the
show.
Plaintiff is informed and believes that Playboy was forced to
implement a no penetration policy based upon the behavior of Christy
Canyon during live broadcasts of Night Calls prior to plaintiffs
employment at Playboy, the filing said.
On numerous occasions and on an on-going basis, plaintiff witnessed
Christy Canyon continuing her outrageous behavior and creating a
sexually hostile environment by, among other things, exposing her
genitals and breasts to guests and co-workers, making requests to
guests and co-workers to touch her genitals and breasts, and
masturbating herself with her own hands as well as with various sex
toys during live broadcasts of Night Calls.
The suit also alleged that Playboy constructively terminated Hughes
because of her gender and race.
Playboy Settles Suit Over Christy Canyons Radio Sex Acts
By Rhett Pardon, XBIZ.com
Wed, Oct 07 2009 11:15am PDT
LOS ANGELES Playboy has settled a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by
a former Night Calls producer who alleged that the host repeatedly
demanded on-air to ass-wax her.
Former producer Terri Hughes said in her suit that Christy Canyon
repeatedly made this demand throughout the three-hour show, forcing
plaintiff to repeatedly refuse, and that she created a hostile work
environment because Hughes is black.
Attorney Michael Fattorosi, who represented Hughes, filed dismissal
papers Sept. 25 at Los Angeles Superior Court, and Playboy recently
withdrew its motion for summary judgment, which argued that Canyon
made no demand at all for an ass-waxing and that her behavior did
not result in sexual harassment.
Fattorosi was unavailable for XBIZ comment Wednesday morning.
The settlement, which was not disclosed, avoids a jury weighing the
fate of the case. The trial was to begin yesterday.
Besides Playboy, Hughes also named in her complaint Farrell Hirsch, a
Playboy Radio executive producer, and Canyon, whose real name is
Melissa Conway.
Hughes worked on Night Calls from January 2008 until August 2008,
when she resigned. After she exited, she filed complaints against
Playboy, Canyon and Hirsch with the state Department of Fair
Employment and Housing, exhausting her administrative remedies. The
agency advised Hughes to file suit.
Playboy, in an earlier filing, said that Night Calls is a show about
sex. It is hosted by former adult film stars who talk vividly about
sex, and it is designed to appeal to listeners' sexual fantasies.
Playboy also said that Hughes aka Sexy Terri on the show took
part in at least one Wax My Ass segment on Night Calls with
Canyon, and that she was a knowing and active participant.
But Hughes said that Canyon went beyond company policy on sexual
harassment even after Playboy tightened allowable behavior on the
show.
Plaintiff is informed and believes that Playboy was forced to
implement a no penetration policy based upon the behavior of Christy
Canyon during live broadcasts of Night Calls prior to plaintiffs
employment at Playboy, the filing said.
On numerous occasions and on an on-going basis, plaintiff witnessed
Christy Canyon continuing her outrageous behavior and creating a
sexually hostile environment by, among other things, exposing her
genitals and breasts to guests and co-workers, making requests to
guests and co-workers to touch her genitals and breasts, and
masturbating herself with her own hands as well as with various sex
toys during live broadcasts of Night Calls.
The suit also alleged that Playboy constructively terminated Hughes
because of her gender and race.