American Idol Employee Told to Settle Harassment Claims  6/25/07

An American Idol employee who claims he was fired for complaining of sexual harassment by a male contestant has been told his lawsuit will be decided by arbitration in accordance with his contract.

Magdaleno Olmos, who worked as an assistant production accountant on the hit show, sued American Idol Productions, Fox, Fremantle Media and contestant Mario Vasquez for wrongful termination in March (07), alleging he was fired after complaining to executives about Vasquez.

In a lawsuit filed in California, Olmos accuses Vasquez of making "inappropriate" advance towards him in February 2005, including exposing himself in a men's bathroom.

Olmos is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for "economic losses, depravation of civil rights, humiliation, physical anguish, and mental and emotional distress".

But Superior Court Judge Michael C. Solner denied Olmos the chance to air his claims before a jury and ruled arbitration.