Florida fans of the TV show “The Simpsons” might be interested in learning that Alf Clausen, the show’s former longtime composer, has filed a lawsuit against Twentieth Century Fox, Disney and Gracie Films, alleging age and disability discrimination. He was fired from the series in 2017.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in Los Angeles on August 5, Clausen claims he was wrongfully terminated due to his age and perceived disability. He was 78 when he was fired, but the suit does not clarify which disability he was perceived to have had. However, the suit alleges that the composer hired to take his place was “substantially younger,” had no disabilities and was paid a lower wage. At the time of Clausen’s termination, the producers of the series claimed they wanted to go in a different creative direction. He is seeking unspecified damages for wrongful discharge, retaliation, disability discrimination, age discrimination and more.
Clausen won two Emmys for his compositions on “The Simpsons,” which included classics such as “Dr. Zauis,” “Springfield, Springfield” and “See My Vest.” In total, he scored more than 560 episodes of the series over 27 seasons.
Federal and state laws are in place to protect employees from age and disability discrimination, but many employers choose to violate them. Florida employees who suspect they have been discriminated against might need Boca Raton workplace disability discrimination law firm help. Attorneys at the firm could evaluate an employee’s case, help gather evidence supporting a claim and file a complaint with a state or federal agency, like the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In some cases, this could help someone obtain compensation for a number of losses, including back pay, front pay, lost benefits, mental distress and more.