Amaani Lyle was a comedy writers' assistant who worked on the production of the television show Friends. The show revolved around a group of young, sexually active adults, featured adult-oriented sexual humor, and typically relied on sexual language and gestures to convey its humor. Before Lyle was hired, she had been warned in the interview that the show dealt with sexual matters and that as an assistant to the writers, she would be listening to and transcribing their sexual jokes and discussions about sex likely to be used for scripts. Lyle responded that sexual discussions would not make her uncomfortable. She was hired as a writers' assistant.
Four months later, Lyle was fired because of problems with her typing and her transcription. Lyle sued claiming the writers' use of sexually coarse and vulgar language and conduct was sexual harassment based on a hostile work environment. Warner Brothers filed a motion for summary judgment claiming the behavior of the writers was not severe or pervasive. The trial court granted Warner Brother's motion and Lyle appealed.
a. There was some graphic conversation at the writers' table. How could the court not find it created a hostile work environment?
b. Do you think it is meaningful that the writers warned Lyle in her interview that there would be lowbrow humor?