Irell & Manella responded Thursday to the employment discrimination and wrongful termination suit filed against the firm in July by former partner Juliette Youngblood, denying her claims and arguing that it was Youngblood’s dreams of becoming a Hollywood producer, not abusive behavior on Irell’s part, that led her to leave the firm.
In its 22-page answer to Youngblood’s suit, Irell offers a narrative of Youngblood’s tenure at — and exit from — the firm that differs sharply from the one she lays out in her complaint. The Irell document, filed by the firm’s lawyers at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, also says the parties should be compelled to arbitrate the matter rather than litigate in court as stipulated in the firm’s partnership agreement.
