Former Disney Attorney Alisa Clairet Sues Company Over Alleged Pay Discrimination and Retaliation
A former top lawyer at Disney, Alisa Clairet, has filed a lawsuit against the company in the Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging gender-based pay discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Her suit adds to ongoing concerns over workplace equity and pay fairness within The Walt Disney Company.
What Clairet Alleges:
Unequal Pay: According to her complaint, Clairet discovered that a male counterpart with similar credentials was hired at a higher salary and held a more senior title, despite her long-standing career at Disney.
Retaliation: Clairet claims that after she raised concerns internally through human resources about the pay disparity, she was labeled as “a problem.”
Termination: In September 2024, during cost-cutting measures, Clairet’s position was eliminated while her male colleague retained his role—and even the associated pay increase and status—despite his demotion.
Clairet was co-head of legal affairs for Disney Channel. Despite this leadership role, she remains convinced she was systematically underpaid according to the seven-claim suit.
“From the beginning of her career with the Disney Channel at The Walt Disney Company in May 2005 through the end of her career at Disney in October 2024, Alisa Clairet was paid substantially less than her male counterpart – another lawyer with the same experience, qualifications and job duties as Ms. Clairet in the same legal affairs department. Not only was she paid less, she consistently did more work and had more responsibilities than her male counterpart”.
Clairet claims that she brought this to the attention of higher-ups but was ignored.
The suit continues,
“Even after Disney was sued by a class of women alleging company-wide pay discrimination, Disney continued to ignore her. Then, after announcing a settlement of the class action, Disney laid off Ms. Clairet as punishment for her efforts to secure equal pay and non-discrimination from Disney. This lawsuit follows to seek justice for decades of pay inequality and discrimination.”
She was let go during Disney’s cost cuts, yet her male counterpart kept his job. He allegedly was paid far more and did less work.
“…if the reasons for the layoffs were due cost-cutting, and efficiencies as Ms. Clairet was explicitly told, then the higher paid and less effective male Principal Counsel should have been selected.”
What is with Disney and female employees?
Broader Implications
This legal challenge comes shortly after Disney settled a separate class-action discrimination lawsuit in California for $43.25 million, which addressed systemic pay disparities affecting female employees in non-union, salaried roles below the vice president level.
Industry-Wide Impact
If successful, Clairet’s case could influence corporate America by reinforcing the obligation of employers, particularly in high-profile industries, to maintain pay equity and protect employees who raise concerns.
Source: Deadline