Binary Accused of Post-Resignation Harassment by Ex-Employee
- Co-founder Justin Caldbeck left after reports of harassment
- Ann Lai says Caldbeck pressured her after she left firm
Jonathan Teo, right, and Justin Caldbeck.
Photographer: Peter DaSilva/The New York Times via ReduxA former employee is suing Binary Capital LLC for harassing and defaming her after she resigned from the venture capital firm, following recent revelations that co-founder Justin Caldbeck made unwelcome sexual advances toward female startup founders.
Ann Lai, who was a principal at San Francisco-based Binary specializing in data and analytics until May 2016, said in a lawsuit filed in a California court that Caldbeck had texted her repeatedly after she left the firm, urging her not to disparage or divulge information about the company and threatening to ruin her career. Binary’s employment agreement contains illegal and overly broad provisions regarding confidentiality and non-disparagement, according to the lawsuit.