Alexandra Metz, a former employee of Ojai Valley School, has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against her former employer, alleging a series of discriminatory and retaliatory actions that have caused her significant professional and personal harm. The complaint was officially lodged in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on April 7, 2025. Metz accuses Ojai Valley School, a California nonprofit corporation, of numerous violations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and other labor laws.
The legal battle began after Metz experienced what she describes as persistent gender discrimination and harassment during her tenure at the school. Employed initially as an Equestrian Teacher/Instructor since September 2020, Metz was promoted to Upper Barn Manager in Summer 2023 due to her exemplary performance. However, following this promotion, she claims to have faced excessive work hours without appropriate compensation or breaks. Her situation worsened during a school trip to Ireland in January 2024 when George Halkett allegedly subjected her to gender-based harassment. Despite filing formal complaints about discrimination and unsafe working conditions in May 2024, Metz's concerns were dismissed by Human Resources without investigation.
Metz's allegations detail how these complaints led to retaliatory actions by the school’s management. In August 2024, she was demoted under false pretenses and subsequently suffered a workplace injury that aggravated her situation. Despite medical restrictions following her injury, Ojai Valley School reportedly failed to provide reasonable accommodations and continued assigning tasks that violated these restrictions. This pattern of retaliation extended into December 2024 when Metz attempted to return to work but was banned from teaching duties and assigned inappropriate manual labor tasks.
In response to these grievances, Metz is seeking substantial damages for lost earnings and employment benefits along with compensation for emotional distress caused by the school's conduct. Her lawsuit demands punitive damages for willful misconduct by the defendants and seeks statutory penalties for various labor code violations including failure to provide meal periods, rest periods, overtime compensation, accurate wage statements, maintaining safe working conditions among others.
Representing Alexandra Metz are attorneys Joshua I. White and Brady Anderson from Laurel Employment Law APC based in Santa Monica. The case is being presided over in the Ventura Superior Court under Case No.: 2O25CLUOE041655.