Geffen Playhouse Accused of Axing Director for Age, Illness

The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles was accused of firing its longtime artistic director because of his age and disability (Arney v. Geffen Playhouse, Cal. Super. Ct., No. BC673176, complaint filed 8/22/17).

Randall Arney, who is 61 and has Bell’s palsy—a condition characterized by facial paralysis—sued the theater Aug. 22 for age discrimination, disability discrimination, libel, and slander. He said he was “stunned and shattered” when the company abruptly announced its decision not to renew his contract because of “succession” concerns.

Bradley C. Gage of Goldberg & Gage in Woodland Hills, Calif., who represented a former deputy fire ...