Court Gives Movaz More Time

A District Court judge has given Movaz Networks Inc. and CEO Bijan Khosravi more time to respond to a sexual harassment and discrimination suit filed by three former employees on May 17 in Atlanta.

Khosravi and company now have until July 8 to file any answer to the charges in the lawsuit -- a month longer than the deadline the court originally set (see Former Employees Sue Movaz, CEO). The request for an extension is not surprising given that Movaz is heading to the Supercomm tradeshow, where it's unveiling a new product (see Supercomm: A ROADM Show?).

Movaz executives haven't talked publicly about the pending lawsuit and declined to comment. But Light Reading sources say Khosravi addressed his employees in person and in a company memo, stating that the charges of three former employees "lack merit."

The memo, source say, indicates that all three women suing Khosravi "left the company on their own accord and in good standing."

"Movaz has retained legal counsel and intends to vigorously defend itself," the company told its employees. Sources close to Movaz say the circulated memo also points out that the lawsuit was the only one of its kind to ever be filed against either the company or Khosravi.

— Phil Harvey, News Editor, Light Reading