Microsoft has reached a settlement in a lawsuit brought by a transgender former software engineer, Cassandra Granade, who alleged discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
Details of Settlement Not Disclosed
The agreement, finalized in Washington state court, led to the dismissal of the case with prejudice by Judge Josephine Wiggs. Neither Granade nor Microsoft disclosed the terms of the settlement.
Allegations of Discrimination and Retaliation
Granade’s lawsuit, filed in September, detailed her experiences at Microsoft’s quantum systems group. She claimed mistreatment by her manager, unfair assumptions about her qualifications, and hostility from a male colleague. Granade also highlighted instances of discrimination following her public transition in June 2020.
Continuous Advocacy and Pushback
Despite ongoing advocacy for diversity and inclusion, Granade faced escalating hostility and was met with resistance when raising concerns about discriminatory practices within the company. She documented instances where her complaints were dismissed or met with retaliatory actions, including poor performance reviews and denial of requests to switch teams.
Microsoft Settles Fired Trans Engineers Bias Suit : Satisfaction with Resolution
Granade’s legal representation, including Claire Cochran, expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the suit. However, Microsoft has yet to provide comment on the matter.
Microsoft Settles Fired Trans Engineers Bias Suit : Legal Representation
Granade is represented by Jordan A. Taren, Robin J. Shishido of Shishido Taren Goldsworthy PLLC, and Claire Cochran of the Law Offices of Claire Cochran PC. Microsoft’s legal team includes Molly A. Terwilliger and Claire M. Lesikar of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.
