Ex-Brooklyn Nets cybersecurity VP sues, says he was fired 16 days after parental leave

A former cybersecurity vice president for the Brooklyn Nets sued the organization, alleging he was unlawfully terminated 16 days after returning from parental leave. The plaintiff in Whalen v. Brooklyn Nets, LLC took two periods of leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act and New York's Paid Family Leave law, according to Yahoo.

The Whalen Suit Against the Brooklyn Nets

The plaintiff claimed that upon his return a supervisor "received him with uncharacteristic hostility" and issued his first negative performance review during his time with the team before firing him. He alleged he received that review just nine days after returning from leave and that his supervisor repeatedly refused to speak with him. He characterized the review as "sudden," claiming two prior reviews completed before he took leave showed he was meeting expectations. He also alleged that during his leave the Nets removed him from a list of employees scheduled to attend an NBA conference "without prior discussion with him and without explanation."

Marissa Shorenstein, chief operating officer for the Nets' parent organization, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, denied the claims. "BSE is committed to a workplace free from discrimination," Shorenstein said in an email to HR Dive. Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment is the holding company for the Nets and the New York Liberty, and it acquired three Brooklyn training facilities from The Post BK in October 2026, Commercial Observer reported, with the sale price not disclosed and the properties purchased in all cash.

Earlier Brooklyn Nets Coverage

In October 2026, the Nets hosted the Charlotte Hornets for their season opener, Yahoo reported, after finishing 20-62 last season while the Hornets went 44-38. The Nets should play freely to open the 2026-27 season, aiming to reach the postseason after recent struggles, with Julius Randle and other acquisitions giving them a shot at the play-in picture, Si reported. Assessing the Nets' point guard rotation for 2026-27, Si reported the group features Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr. And Nolan Traore, with Randle handling playmaking.

Leave Disputes at Other Employers

Other employers face leave and pay litigation. Federal Express faces thousands of lawsuits nationwide, including 251 in the Kansas City area, accusing it of failing to properly pay drivers for overtime, American City Business Journals reported. The UK Supreme Court rejected Tesco's appeal in an equal pay case involving over 16,000 shop workers, a case worth a potential £4 billion, CityAM reported. Zakay Law Group filed a class action against Mendocino Farms in Alameda County Superior Court alleging violations of California Labor Code sections, PR Newswire reported.

The FMLA prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against employees who take FMLA-protected leave. Courts may consider the temporal proximity between an employee's discipline or termination and their leave or leave request when assessing FMLA claims. The 9th Circuit held in 2019 that an employer did not discriminate against an employee who received negative reviews and was fired less than three months after she requested to take FMLA leave, with the reviews dating back to before the leave request.