Former ‘Doctors' producer alleges retaliation, disability discrimination

A former associate producer for "The Doctors" is suing Stage 29 Productions LLC, alleging she was fired in 2021 in retaliation for seeking time off and asking for other accommodations to deal with thyroid cancer.

Morgan Kaylor's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit alleges wrongful termination, retaliation, disability discrimination, failure to accommodate and engage in the interactive process and failure to take steps to prevent discrimination and retaliation. She seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

A company representative did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the suit brought June 14. Stage 29 Productions was founded by CEO and executive producers Phil McGraw and Jay McGraw.

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Kaylor, 52, was hired in 2017 and her job included being an associate producer for "The Doctors" as well as assisting her supervisor with other projects, according to the suit, which further states that she was promoted to production marketing coordinator and associate producer and production manager two years later.

Kaylor was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2021 and she quickly informed her boss about her supervisor so that Stage 29 would not have any interruptions or scheduling issues while she underwent treatment, the suit states. She went on leave in March of that year and returned two weeks later after surgery, the suit further states.

In June 2021, Kaylor underwent radioactive iodine therapy and took a month-long medical leave, during which time Stage 29 hired an executive assistant's mother to temporarily fill the plaintiff's position, the suit states.

Although Kaylor returned to work in August of that year, she still needed occasional time off for treatment, according to the suit, which further states that woman temporarily brought in to do the plaintiff's work stayed on the job and continued performing work that had been the responsibility of Kaylor.

Kaylor was terminated in December 2021, allegedly in retaliation because of her cancer and need for accommodations. Kaylor filed for arbitration, but Stage 29 did not pay its share and has now waived its right to demand arbitration, the suit alleges.

Kaylor has lost income and suffered emotional distress due to losing her job, the suit states.

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