Ethereum Foundation sued over firing after cancer disclosure

BeInCrypto reported that Kayleen Fulton has sued Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation in federal court, alleging she was fired 13 days after telling company leadership about her ovarian cancer diagnosis. The filing links the dismissal to that disclosure, a claim the foundation denies.

The lawsuit ties the firing to a staff revolt over a mandate pledge that it describes as a pledge to take one's own life with a sword. The filing says employees voted to remove the pledge, but the board kept it. Co-Executive Director Bastian Aue, the filing adds, ordered staff to provide a written commitment or resign. Fulton and Trent Van Epps were fired on April 6, according to the complaint.

Buterin recorded comments about the firings, and the complaint cites them. The Ethereum Foundation says the pledge was not meant literally and denies that the firings were retaliation. The Singapore affiliate, for its part, says any severance requires arbitration in Singapore. Fulton seeks back pay based on a $195,000 salary, along with punitive damages.

The next step is a ruling on whether a Colorado judge will keep the case in US court.