Dovetail distress
In-house lawyer Bethany Lo Russo's lawsuit against Dovetail and CEO Benjamin Humphrey is only likely to get more attention within the startup ecosystem and beyond as it plays out in court.
No matter which way you look at it, there's one way to describe the case Bethany Lo Russo has brought against Dovetail and its CEO Benjamin Humphrey: messy.
The Australian customer insights startup, which famously secured $86.9 million in funding in the heady days of 2022, finds itself at the centre of serious allegations that have already drawn a response from one of its earliest investors, Blackbird Ventures.
Details of the case became public this week after Dovetail dropped its short-term bid to suppress court documents laying out allegations made by Lo Russo, its in-house legal counsel, against Humphrey. As we reported earlier today, the Federal Court filing includes claims of sexual harassment, discrimination and what Lo Russo's lawyers describe as "a pernicious and relentless pursuit" involving unwanted sexual advances.
Both Humphrey and Dovetail strongly deny the allegations, and Humphrey has pledged not just to defend them but also to sue Lo Russo for defamation. “I will be defending the allegations, intend to commence defamation proceedings, and look forward to my account being heard in Court,” he said in a statement.
