Khloé Kardashian's Good American Set For Trial With Ex-Employee Who Is Battling Cancer

Khloé Kardashian's fashion company is still legally butting heads with an ex-employee as a trial looms.

"The Kardashians" star's fashion company, Good American, is preparing for trial after failing to reach a settlement with a former employee who is suing for wrongful termination due to health issues related to cancer.

In 2019, Khloé Kardashian hired an employee who received consistent positive reviews throughout their tenure and was recognized with promotions and raises.

The hearing was held yesterday, April 29, concerning the lawsuit filed against Good American by Brooke, who was hired as a Marketing Intern in 2019 and later promoted to Marketing Coordinator in June 2021. 

During the hearing, it was revealed that the parties had previously attempted to settle to avoid trial, but the case remains unresolved, with a jury trial scheduled for August 4 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

In her lawsuit, Brooke claims she received positive performance reviews that recognized her contributions to the team and highlighted her work on projects involving Kardashian and her business partner, Emma Grede.

However, Brooke alleges that the defendants engaged in a campaign of pressure against her, making negative comments regarding her need for accommodations.

Per In Touch, she claimed that her bosses implied her request was detrimental to the organization and suggested she take a medical leave of absence instead of allowing her to work remotely.

In the lawsuit, Brooke contended that despite facing pressure from her employers, she effectively continued to perform her job remotely. She also pointed out that she found a job listing for her role while still employed.

In September 2023, Brooke shared that she submitted another accommodation request to continue working from home. Her request was supported by a doctor's note indicating that she was "extremely immunocompromised" due to a pre-existing medical condition.

However, in October, she alleged that Good American terminated her employment under the guise of a company "layoff." Brooke challenged this situation, noting that the company was still hiring and filling other positions.

She claimed that her termination was actually a result of discrimination related to her medical condition and disability. Consequently, the lawsuit sought damages from Good American and Grede for wrongful termination, cancer discrimination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In the lawsuit, Kardashianwas not named as a defendant, but her company, Good American, along with Grede, responded to the allegations by denying any wrongdoing.

Their legal team argued that the plaintiff, Brooke, is precluded from claiming injuries or damages, asserting that any issues she faced were the direct result of her own conduct.

They contended that if Brooke experienced any mental or emotional distress, it stemmed from pre-existing psychological disorders or other concurrent causes, rather than from the actions of the defendants.

Additionally, the lawyers stated that Brooke's claims regarding failure to accommodate were invalid because she had not provided notice of her need for such accommodations. 

The legal team emphasized that Brooke had prior mental distress linked to her cancer diagnosis, which they argued existed before her termination. The defendants claimed that her emotional distress was not attributable to their actions and insisted that the lawsuit be dismissed in its entirety.

The former staff claimed she provided a doctor's note in June 2023, written by the UCLA Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology -- to the clothing brand. She said the details in the doctor's note were not received well by the team at the company. According to The Blast, the doctor's note listed:

• She was under a doctor's "professional care."
• requesting as an accommodation a "temporary excuse from work."
• identifying her as "immune-compromised and sick and lung damaged."
• stating that she was "recently discharged from the hospital."
• stating that she "needs to complete a course of treatment."
• requesting an accommodation, including that "she returns to work remotely."

Brooke filed the lawsuit against a company, alleging a violation of Labor Code section 1102.5. This section prohibits retaliation against employees who report activities they believe to be unlawful or who refuse to engage in activities that are indeed unlawful.

Before pursuing legal action, the former E! star made a significant decision regarding her professional path. As reported by The Blast, the reality TV personality has been flourishing as the host of her podcast, "Khloé in Wonderland," and is looking to make it her primary focus.

Sources indicate that this shift is well thought out, as she has been preparing for it over time, including conducting test interviews to refine her skills.

This transition is particularly important for the mother of two, who is reassessing her future with her family's reality show. Insiders reveal that she hopes to expand her podcast brand in the meantime. 

Additionally, this career move allows her to gain some independence from the strong influence of her mother and manager, Kris Jenner.

Will Khloé Kardashian's Good American case eventually get to trial?