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Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of hurriedly seeking to pirate away several contracted employees.
The suit, filed on Tuesday, names the recent hiring of Pia Barlow as an example of what Warner Bros. Discovery describes as Amazon's lawless employee shopping spree.
The filing alleges intentional interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and unfair competition against Amazon.
Barlow previously served as HBO Max's former executive vice president of originals marketing. According to the suit, her contract with Warner Bros. Discovery was not set to expire until Oct. 31, 2027.
Amazon MGM Studios announced Barlow as its new head of original series marketing on Friday, the same day most outlets began reporting on the lawsuit.
The filing states that Amazon was aware of Barlow's ongoing contractual commitment to WMS, of which Warner Bros. Discovery is a beneficiary, and alleges that Amazon 'brazenly and deliberately induced Barlow to breach the employment agreement by packing up and decamping to Amazon over 16 months before its expiration.'
Warner Bros. Discovery further alleges in the filing that Barlow is not the first, nor apparently the last, WBD employee that Amazon has targeted or will target in the future.
The suit claims that a few weeks before Amazon's alleged interference with Barlow's contract, Amazon similarly attempted to induce another WBD employee to breach a term of employment agreement that was not set to expire until December 2027.
According to the filing, Amazon was ultimately unsuccessful in its efforts to recruit that particular executive.
Warner Bros. Discovery is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and injunctive relief in the case.
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