McDonald's Ex-CEO Fights Back At Company Lawsuit

CHICAGO, IL — McDonald's former Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook is fighting back at the company for suing to take back millions in compensation over allegations he covered up sexual relationships. According to a Bloomberg report, Easterbrook denies accusations of covering up sexual relationships with three other employees and destroyed evidence, and his lawyers are working to have the lawsuit thrown out.

McDonald’s claims that after firing Easterbrook last year, they found new information that led to accusations Easterbrook “concealed evidence and lied about his wrongdoing.” However, the news source added that Easterbrook says McDonald’s had the information when the company negotiated his separation agreement.

"McDonald’s — a sophisticated entity represented by numerous internal and external experts when it entered into the separation agreement — is aware it cannot credibly allege a breach of contract claim,” Easterbrook’s lawyers said Friday in a filing, according to Bloomberg.

In the court filing, McDonald's asks the court to enter a judgment "A. awarding the company compensatory damages, together with pre- and post-judgment interest; B. awarding McDonald’s the costs and disbursements of this action, including attorneys’, accountants’, and experts’ fees; C. in the alternative, ordering rescission of the Separation Agreement and directing Easterbrook to return all cash and stock awards granted pursuant to said agreement; D. and for such other, further and different relief as the Court may deem just and proper."

Related:

• McDonald's Sues Ousted CEO, Alleging Employee Relationships
• CEO Steps Down After Relationship With Employee: McDonald's
• McDonald's Headquarters Officially Moving to Chicago

In November, McDonald's announced that Easterbrook separated from the global restaurant franchise after having a consensual relationship with an employee, according to a statement from McDonald's. In addition to being against policy, the decision "demonstrated poor judgment," McDonald's reported.

Since 2015, Easterbrook had been the CEO of McDonald's. His career with the company started more than 20 years ago, as a financial reporting manager in London in 1993.