Things are not going well for American Apparel founder and former CEO Dov Charney.
American Apparel's board fired Charney for misconduct, including sexual harassment, last December. He then turned around and sued the company for defamation. That lawsuit's prospects aren't looking good after the latest hearing.
At the Sept. 30 proceeding, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry Green blocked the suit -- but not before a few harsh words for Charney.
"You know, I think there’s a greater likelihood that I’ll be the first American astronaut stranded on Mars before [Charney] wins this lawsuit," Green said, according to Litigation Daily.
He didn't stop there. According to the Wall Street Journal, Green went on to describe how the case would go if it went to trial. He didn't think it would end well for Charney.
"No rational company would hire this guy,” Judge Green said at the Sept. 30 hearing, describing the arguments that would be made if Mr. Charney’s case went to trial. “It would be insane. This is sexual harassment. This is the mother of all sexual harassment cases. I mean, this is so far over the top, that you can’t see the top anymore. I mean, it’s just…”
Prior to Charney's outster, multiple former employees filed lawsuits against him alleging all sorts of misconduct, from choking a store manager to forcing an employee into "sex slavery."
The judge ended the hearing almost wistfully, according to Above the Law: "This would be certainly an entertaining trial. It certainly beats your usual breach of contract case." However, he went on, "I just don’t see it.”
American Apparel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.