LA Judge Weighs Ageism Lawsuit by Former Venice High Choir Director

A Los Angeles judge is weighing whether to throw out an explosive ageism lawsuit brought by a 70-year-old former Venice High School choir director who claims years of relentless workplace bullying forced her to quit.

Wendy Sarnoff, who chaired the school’s music department before resigning in 2023, sued the Los Angeles Unified School District in October 2024 alleging age discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination.

Sarnoff claims colleagues routinely mocked her in faculty meetings as "old" and "old school," denied her computer training, and told her she was "too old" and "hopeless" when she asked for technical help.

According to court filings, harassment from an assistant principal escalated in 2019 with repeated pushes for her to retire, leaving her feeling like the school's "laughingstock." Sarnoff also claims that when her district-issued computer was stolen, LAUSD refused to replace it, forcing her to raise funds on her own to buy a replacement device.

LAUSD attorneys are fighting back, forcefully denying any age bias in court pleadings and accusing the veteran teacher of mistreating her own students.

District lawyers allege Sarnoff routinely called students "stupid," "idiot," and "not bright," once announced her classroom smelled like a "French w********e," and told students, "If you can't sing 'The Star Spangled Banner' you should die."

Sarnoff resigned in 2023 following district investigations into her conduct, though her attorneys state the principal requested she be marked "ineligible for rehire" before she formally handed in her resignation.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Cherol J. Nellon heard arguments Monday on LAUSD's motion to dismiss and took the matter under submission.