Schlumberger Loses Bid for Early Dismissal of Harassment Suit (Corrected)

Schlumberger Technology Corp. must continue to defend a proposed class action that accuses the oil-field services giant of discriminating against women who work on male-dominated rigs, a federal judge in Texas ruled.

Schlumberger’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit was rejected on Thursday by Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Hoyt said the issues raised by Schlumberger against sex discrimination and harassment claims of two former employees were best addressed in a motion for summary judgment, which is generally filed after an evidence gathering process known as discovery, and not a motion ...