Disney and California’s DFEH in Legal Battle Over ‘Criminal Minds’ Harassment Allegations
Disney and California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) are locked in a convoluted legal battle right now, with Criminal Minds stuck in the middle. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the DFEH is suing Disney on behalf of “a group of persons who worked on set for the production of the television series Criminal Minds — including Anthony Matulic and Dauv McNeely.” Disney, in turn, is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that its plaintiff is “hopelessly vague.”
The DFEH first sued Disney, ABC and other companies involved in the production of Criminal Minds back in May of 2020, and the issue has not been resolved yet. The lawsuit also targets some individuals, presenting evidence that the show’s director of photography, Greg St. Johns, “engaged in sexual harassment, discrimination and harassment” against workers on set. Disney is teaming up with some of the individual defendants, although St. Johns is reportedly represented separately from the company.
