Court Allows Partial Claims in Former Google Engineer's Retaliation Suit Over Anti-Israel Protests
A New York federal judge let some of an ex-Google employee's retaliation claims proceed while dismissing others, focusing on her protest activities and whistleblower allegations.
Skaf worked at Google from 2009 until her termination in April 2024 after she helped organize a peaceful sit-in demanding the cancellation of Project Nimbus and an end to alleged anti-Arab harassment. She had previously raised concerns that the contract conflicted with Google's AI Principles and reported being doxxed and harassed by coworkers. After filing an internal Employee Relations complaint in March 2024, Google terminated her, citing policy violations.
In a ruling by Judge Jesse Furman, the court allowed her retaliation claims under Title VII and the New York City Human Rights Law to proceed, reasoning that her protest could be viewed as a protected activity. However, the court dismissed her whistleblower claim under New York Labor Law § 740, concluding she did not demonstrate a reasonable belief that Google was breaking the law. The partial victory means the dispute will continue on the discrimination-based retaliation grounds.
Why it matters
The case highlights how employee activism on geopolitical issues can intersect with workplace retaliation claims.
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