Phillip Pessar / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, Wigdor LLP filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of Thomas Gibb, Vice President of Product Development at Stuart Weitzman, against the footwear brand’s former Creative Director, Giovanni Morelli, and its parent company, Tapestry, Inc. (“Tapestry”).
The lawsuit alleges that despite Mr. Gibb’s repeated complaints about Mr. Morelli’s sexually inappropriate behavior towards him, no remedial action was taken whatsoever by Stuart Weitzman’s HR Department, effectively allowing Mr. Morelli to continue to violate Tapestry’s code of conduct without consequence. It was only after Mr. Gibb retained legal counsel — and Tapestry realized that legal action might follow — that Tapestry announced Mr. Morelli had “resigned.” The announcement also stated, “we greatly admire” Mr. Morelli. As alleged, this “resignation” was actually a forced termination in an attempt to shield Tapestry from liability rather than take legitimate legal action.
As set forth in the Complaint, Mr. Morelli’s constant barrage of sexually harassing behavior towards Mr. Gibb included numerous unwanted touchings, endless sexually-charged comments and innuendo, and sexually explicit drawings on a whiteboard in Mr. Gibb’s office.
Lawsuit filed by @WigdorLaw alleges that @StuartWeitzman announced the "resignation" of creative director Giovanni Morelli following allegations of #SexualHarassment, but did so only after facing possible legal action. https://t.co/kNgaP7taCR
— WigdorLaw (@WigdorLaw) May 29, 2018
Plaintiff is represented by Wigdor LLP Partner David E. Gottlieb
Statement from David E. Gottlieb, Partner at Wigdor LLP:
“Mr. Gibb has filed an action today to ensure the public is aware of the extent of this conduct and the Company’s utter failure to take it seriously until the possibility of a lawsuit became apparent.”
Bloomberg
“Stuart Weitzman Owner Sued for Harassment by Footwear Executive”
May 29, 2018
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Women’s Wear Daily
“Stuart Weitzman Exec Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Tapestry, Giovanni Morelli”
May 29, 2018
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Fashionista
“Stuart Weitzman VP Sues Former Creative Director Over Sexual Harassment”
May 29, 2018
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Racked
“A Stuart Weitzman Exec Is Suing the Company for Sexual Harassment”
May 30, 2018
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Daily Mail
“Stuart Weitzman exec claims ex-creative director sexually harassed him”
May 29, 2018
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NY Daily News
“Gay exec for Coach parent company Tapestry relentlessly sexually harassed straight VP: lawsuit”
May 29, 2018
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New York Post
“Stuart Weitzman exec says boss sexually harassed him”
May 29, 2018
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The Hollywood Reporter
“Stuart Weitzman VP Sues Tapestry Inc. Over Sexual Harassment Claims”
May 29, 2018
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Footwear News
“Stuart Weitzman Exec Sues Brand & Former Creative Director Over Sexual Harassment”
May 29, 2018
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Refinery29
“The Latest in the Stuart Weitzman Sexual Harassment Case”
May 30, 2018
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