A former executive at Bowlero, the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, is seeking court permission to countersue his former employer for extortion and retaliation. Thomas Tanase, Bowlero’s former chief information officer, alleges that an executive at the company threatened to report him to the FBI if he didn’t admit to spilling company secrets. Tanase and dozens of others have filed discrimination claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging they were fired based on their age or out of retaliation. Bowlero denies these claims. The company went public in late 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company and reported significant revenue growth.
Tanase began working at Bowlero in 2001 and climbed his way up to the C-suite, where he worked closely with the CEO and had access to sensitive information. He claims that he was fired in May because of his age and filed a discrimination claim with the EEOC in August. Bowlero alleges that Tanase resigned and later had a change of heart when he realized he wouldn’t receive severance pay. The company sued Tanase in July, accusing him of hacking into the CEO’s email account. Tanase denies the allegations. Now, he is seeking permission to countersue Bowlero and a company executive for extortion and retaliation.
In a recorded phone call, Bowlero’s executive vice chairman allegedly asked Tanase to admit to accessing the CEO’s emails and to disclose any information shared with others. The executive suggested that if Tanase complied, he would be forgiven. Tanase repeatedly denied sharing information with anyone and insisted he hadn’t done anything illegal or malicious. Bowlero maintains that the transcript shows the company extending an “olive branch” to Tanase and denies any extortion allegations. Tanase is seeking damages from Bowlero for extortion and retaliation.
Bowlero has been under investigation by the EEOC since 2016 regarding allegations of discrimination against more than 70 former employees who claim they were unlawfully fired. Tanase and others allege that the company engaged in discriminatory practices, including firing employees based on age and making inappropriate hiring decisions based on appearance. The EEOC found reasonable cause in most complaints against Bowlero, indicating a belief that discrimination occurred. Efforts to settle the complaints for $60 million in January 2023 were unsuccessful.
The dispute between Tanase and Bowlero centers around whether Tanase resigned or was fired from his position. Tanase claims that he was subjected to micromanagement and harassment by the company before his termination. Bowlero alleges that Tanase threatened to seek revenge on the company and its CEO after his separation and demanded a severance payment. Tanase denies these claims. Both parties are involved in separate legal actions related to Tanase’s termination, discrimination claims, and alleged extortion and retaliation. The legal battle between Tanase and Bowlero continues as they await the court’s decision on whether to permit Tanase to proceed with his countersuit.
