A judge has ruled that a former hairstylist for the rock band KISS can move forward with his wrongful termination lawsuit against Gene Simmons and other individuals associated with the group.
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In his Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, David Mathews alleges he was wrongfully fired from his job as a hairstylist in 2022 after he was incorrectly accused of being the source of a magazine article talking about lax coronavirus protocol within the band.
Mathews maintains he urged the defendants to "force" Fran Stueber, a guitar technician for co-lead vocalist Paul Stanley, to get medical attention and that he told Stueber in front of some of the defendants that he needed to go to the hospital.
Stanley is a co-defendant along with company GAPP 2002 Ltd. and 74- year-old music manager Harold "Doc" McGhee, who has worked with KISS, Bon Jovi, Hootie & the Blowfish and Motley Crue.
Judge Armen Tamzarian heard arguments Dec. 6 on a defense motion to dismiss Mathews' claims for wrongful termination, retaliation and state Labor Code violations, then took the issues under submission. He issued his final ruling on Tuesday. Trial is scheduled Jan. 22.
"Plaintiff raises a triable issue on whether he had reasonable cause to believe the conduct he reported was unlawful," the judge wrote.
Mathews also maintains he is owed unpaid wages and overtime money.
According to KISS lawyers, the 53-year-old Stueber, in violation of the written coronavirus protocols for the planned End of the World tour, submitted a fake vaccination card and then refused to seek medical attention after contracting COVID-19, despite being repeatedly urged by band members and tour officials. Stueber died in October 2021 at age 53.
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