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Streaming giant Netflix has settled a gender discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit brought by its former director of business and legal affairs in India, ending a yearslong legal battle that accused top company executives of racism, sexism, and retaliation.

According to a Los Angeles County Superior Court filing on Friday, counsel for plaintiff Nandini Mehta notified the court that “the entire case has been settled,” officially closing one of the most high-profile workplace discrimination suits to shadow the entertainment platform in recent years.

The terms of the Netflix gender discrimination suit settlement were not disclosed, and representatives for both sides declined to comment on the resolution.

Allegations of Bias and Retaliation

Mehta, who joined Netflix Entertainment Services India LLP in early 2018, sued in 2021 claiming the company fired her under false pretenses after she raised internal alarms about how the streaming giant structured its operations in India to minimize potential tax obligations.

The former executive also accused her superior, Ben McLean, Netflix’s senior director of business affairs, of regularly making racist and sexist remarks about Indians and her physical appearance. Mehta alleged that McLean engineered her 2020 termination under the pretext of misusing a company credit card, though she claimed she had approval to do so.

The lawsuit further asserted that Mehta’s dismissal came after she raised concerns about gender-based pay disparities within Netflix’s Asia-Pacific operations.

Claims Against Netflix’s Top Counsel Tossed Before Settlement

Mehta also named Josephine Choy, Netflix’s vice president and general counsel for Asia Pacific, as a co-defendant. Choy was accused of making derogatory remarks about Indian women, allegedly calling them “loud,” “aggressive,” and “gossipy,” and making demeaning comments about Indian drivers and hygiene.

However, in 2023, a judge dismissed claims against Choy, ruling that Mehta had not shown sufficient evidence connecting those remarks directly to her or her employment situation.

In court filings, Mehta described Choy and McLean as a bullying duo, alleging they created a toxic and intimidating work environment. She claimed Choy discouraged her from raising issues of gender inequality, telling her that such complaints were “toxic to Netflix’s culture.”

Netflix’s Legal Team and Representation

Netflix and Choy were represented by Katherine V.A. Smith, Monica B. Paladini, and Lauren Fischer of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a firm known for defending high-profile corporations in employment and discrimination cases.

Mehta was represented by Frank Hakim and Roxanne Davis of Davis*Gavsie & Hakim LLP, who previously indicated that their client sought to “shine light on systemic inequities” in international corporate operations.