June Legal Update

Two pending legal cases against Microsoft have been dismissed: a racial discrimination suit brought by a former employee and an antitrust investigation brought by the European Union (EU). But the company’s victories are somewhat tempered, as it still faces several other discrimination cases and EU antitrust actions, along with a new patent infringement lawsuit. Showing its concern about freedom of speech, Microsoft also filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case about a controversial novel.

Insufficient Evidence in Discrimination Suit

A U.S. District judge has dismissed one of several racial discrimination suits facing Microsoft. Judge John Coughenour of the District Court in Seattle found insufficient evidence that Microsoft discriminated against plaintiff Peter Browne because of his race. Although the dismissal is good news for Microsoft, the company is still dogged by discrimination claims from former employees: Rahn Jackson is seeking US$5 billion in a case before the District Court in Washington, D.C.; Monique Donaldson, who counts celebrity lawyer Johnnie Cochran among her legal team, is seeking unspecified damages; and both cases have been joined by several other plaintiffs. If either case is granted class-action status, hundreds of former and current employees could conceivably join the lawsuits.