Former PodcastOne Employee Sues for Wrongful Exit

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, September 28, 2017

Raymond Hernandez, a former employee of PodcastOne, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court last Friday reports Variety. PodcastOne is a network headed by veteran radio exec Norman Pattiz. Hernandez alleges that he was told to inflate download numbers in order to deceive advertisers. He also claims that after raising objections to do so, Pattiz threatened him by brandishing a firearm.

"Defendant Pattiz would pull his firearm out at work, and would place it on a desk or a work surface with the muzzle pointed at Plaintiff," the suit alleges. "Plaintiff believed such conduct to be a threat that he comply with the directives set forth by his supervisor, Pattiz, at PodcastOne under force and threats of force."

Pattiz, the founder and Executive Chairman of PodcastOne, is a reserve sheriff's deputy reports Variety. The suit alleges that he would show off his badge and bragged about his connections to law enforcement. Hernandez also said that he complained about Pattiz's bullying and alleges he was fired in July, 2016 in retaliation.

In a statement to Variety, Pattiz said, "This guy must be crazy. I've never met alone with him. I didn't hire him or fire him. I barely know who he is. The fact that I'm a law enforcement reserve is well known as I have public service awards in my office. I didn't and would never act in the manner that's been described... His allegations are absurd."