June 25, 2024 Mozilla Corporation, along with three of its executives, is facing a lawsuit in the US for alleged disability discrimination and retaliation against its Chief Product Officer, Steve Teixeira. The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court in Washington, claims that Teixeira, who was set to become CEO, faced unjust treatment following his cancer diagnosis.
Teixeira was diagnosed with ocular melanoma on October 3, 2023, and took medical leave from October 30, 2023, through February 1, 2024, for cancer treatment.
The complaint states that upon his return, Mozilla aimed to demote or terminate Teixeira due to concerns about his capabilities as someone living with cancer. Interim CEO Laura Chambers and Chief People Officer Dani Chehak allegedly told him he could not continue in his role or as a Mozilla employee beyond 2024 because of his diagnosis.
Teixeira claims he was placed on leave against his will and sidelined during a crucial period when he needed to prepare his family for the future.
The complaint highlights Teixeira’s contributions to Mozilla, including reversing Firefox’s decline and growing its advertising business. It also notes his ethical concerns about layoffs motivated by profit margins, which he viewed as contrary to Mozilla’s stated values.
Teixeira faced a negative performance review, bonus reduction, and proposals to move him to a lower-paying role, which he declined. Following his diagnosis of stage-four liver cancer, the pressure to accept a diminished role increased.
The lawsuit alleges violations of multiple laws, including the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), Family and Medical Leave Acts (FMLA and PFML), and the Washington State Silenced No More Act. It also accuses Mozilla of defamation and improper disclosure of health information.
A Mozilla spokesperson stated, “We deny the allegations and intend to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. Mozilla has a 25-plus-year track record of maintaining the highest standards of integrity and compliance with all applicable laws. We look forward to presenting our defense in court and are confident that the facts will demonstrate that we have acted appropriately.”
