A 51-year-old music executive known as “the Mom” or “Auntie” at Bad Boy Records is suing Sean “P. Diddy” Combs for $12 million claiming that she was fired for being old and disabled.  Francesca Spero says that she first met Combs, in 1988 and began working for him a decade later during his “Puff Daddy” phase.  During her tenure, she helped sign new song writers, get music clearances for corporate endorsements, execute Bad Boy’s $38 million deal with Warner Brothers and produce the MTV reality show “Making the Band.”  Roughly two years ago, Combs and Spero’s partnership began to fall apart when she underwent surgery to treat a hip misalignment, and he allegedly said she could no longer “run around” and earned too much money for “someone who could no longer keep up with his fast-paced lifestyle.”  In March 2010, Spero was fired said her replacement was a woman about 10 to 15 years younger.  Full Article

It is unlawful to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex, as per Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”) protects employees and job applicants who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age.  Such discrimination violates the ADEA when it is applied to terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, and training.

Leeds Morelli & Brown, PC is a nationally recognized firm in the area of employment law.  Our firm has had considerable success in matters of employment discrimination throughout Long Island and the New York City area.  For more information, contact Leeds, Morelli and Brown, PC at 1-800-585-4658 for a free consultation.