Newman contends that his emails were not genuinely threatening, but merely expressions of frustration. He argues that Google misinterpreted his words and points out that his father supervised him full-time during his medical leave due to his bipolar disorder.
However, Google highlighted several emails from Newman that were sent to former supervisors in October 2020. In these messages, Newman referred to his fists as “stronger than sledgehammers” and called colleagues derogatory names. He also warned a former manager in Canada that he could end the person’s career or life if he weren’t a Christian.
The company clarified that it waited until Newman was cleared to work before interviewing him as part of an investigation into potential policy violations. When questioned about the emails, Newman attributed them to his frustration and poor mental state.
“Google is not (and was not) required to merely hope that the threatened violence would not occur in the future,” the company wrote in its motion.
