BlackBerry asks U.S. court to dismiss ex-CMO’s claims of harassment and retaliation
BlackBerry filed U.S. court documents saying former CMO Neelam Sandhu offered no evidence her dismissal was discriminatory or retaliatory amid allegations against CEO John Giamatteo.
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By Torontoer Staff
BlackBerry Ltd. told a U.S. court this week that its former chief marketing officer has produced no evidence that her dismissal was discriminatory, retaliatory or improper. The filings seek summary judgment against Neelam Sandhu, who alleges she lost her job after reporting sexual harassment by then-executive John Giamatteo and subsequent retaliation.
In the new submissions, the Waterloo company says Sandhu was part of a broad restructuring and not targeted for complaining about Giamatteo. The filings also push back on Sandhu’s effort to link her case to allegations by other women that BlackBerry tolerated a boys’ club culture.
Court filings and summary judgment request
BlackBerry asked the court to rule without a full trial by way of summary judgment. The company argues the evidence Sandhu cites is insufficient to sustain claims of gender discrimination, retaliation or whistleblower retaliation, the three claims that remain after a judge dismissed her hostile work environment and wage discrimination allegations.
A ruling on the summary judgment motion would decide whether Sandhu’s remaining claims proceed to trial. Neither her allegations nor BlackBerry’s defences have been tested in court.
Allegations by Sandhu
Sandhu, who worked at BlackBerry for just under 15 years, says she reported an incident in which Giamatteo, a senior executive now named CEO, invited her to dinner, caressed her hand and tried to put his arm around her waist. She alleges that after she complained she was excluded from meetings and faced retaliatory conduct.
It is important that you be nice to me, as I know a lot of people in the industry, have a large network so it could impact you negatively if you are not nice to me.
Alleged quote from John Giamatteo, as reported by Sandhu
Sandhu was terminated in December 2023 and filed suit in California in April 2024. She originally used the pseudonym Jane Doe but dropped it after a judge required permission to proceed under that name.
BlackBerry’s rebuttal
BlackBerry describes Sandhu’s claims as lacking merit. The company told the court her complaint contains "falsehoods and mischaracterizations" and that the allegations "fall well short of conduct that amounts to sexual harassment or discrimination."
The filings dispute Sandhu’s attempt to portray her experience as part of a pattern affecting other women at the company. BlackBerry says several of the anecdotes Sandhu cited are incorrect, and that discovery showed at least one former employee left voluntarily and another did not report retaliation.
At a large corporation, particularly one undergoing contraction, there will always be former employees with negative views about the company.
BlackBerry court filing
- December 2023, Neelam Sandhu was terminated from BlackBerry.
- April 2024, Sandhu filed a lawsuit in California, initially under the name Jane Doe.
- A judge dismissed her hostile work environment and wage discrimination claims.
- January 2026, BlackBerry filed for summary judgment on remaining claims.
Legal stakes and next steps
The remaining claims allege gender discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower retaliation. If the court denies summary judgment, the case could proceed to discovery and trial, where witnesses and documents will be tested under oath. If the court grants the motion, those claims could be dismissed without a trial.
Both sides face credibility assessments. Sandhu must show a causal link between her complaint and her termination. BlackBerry must show legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for the job cuts and rebut any inference of retaliation.
The dispute arrives as the tech sector continues to face scrutiny over workplace culture and how companies handle harassment complaints. The court will now weigh the evidence and legal arguments before deciding whether the case moves forward.
A hearing date for the summary judgment motion has not been publicly disclosed. This report was first published by The Canadian Press on Jan. 15, 2026.
BlackBerryemployment lawsexual harassmentlawsuittechnology
