Former Bowlero executive, Thomas Tanase, has accused the company of extortion and retaliation in a proposed countersuit filed in Virginia federal court. Tanase claims that an executive at Bowlero threatened to report him to the FBI if he didn’t admit to spilling company secrets. These allegations come as Tanase and dozens of others have filed discrimination claims with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging they were fired based on their age or out of retaliation.
Bowlero, the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers, denies these claims. The company went public in late 2021 and has seen significant financial success. It owns two major bowling brands, AMF and Lucky Strike, and operates over 300 bowling centers across North America. Between 2021 and 2023, Bowlero nearly tripled its annual revenue and expects sales to continue growing in fiscal 2024.
Tanase, who previously worked as Bowlero’s chief information officer, alleges that he was fired because of his age. He filed a discrimination claim with the EEOC in August 2023. Bowlero claims that Tanase resigned and only changed his mind when he realized he wouldn’t receive severance pay. In July, the company sued Tanase, accusing him of hacking into the CEO’s email account and refusing to return company-issued devices.
In his proposed countersuit, Tanase accuses Bowlero’s executive vice chairman, Brett Parker, of threatening to report him to the FBI if he didn’t admit to accessing the CEO’s emails and sharing information with CNBC and Daniel Dowe, the attorney representing the EEOC complainants. Tanase recorded a phone conversation with Parker in which Parker allegedly asked him to reveal what he knew and promised that all would be forgiven if he cooperated. Tanase denies sharing any information and claims that he may have had access to the CEO’s email account due to his previous role.
Bowlero contends that the transcript of the conversation shows the company offering Tanase an “olive branch” in exchange for confessing to the hacking allegations. The company argues that it was not wrongfully seeking a benefit from Tanase and that his claims of extortion are baseless.
Tanase also alleges that Bowlero sued him in retaliation for his refusal to sign a termination agreement that would waive his right to pursue legal action against the company. He claims that Bowlero wanted to deter him from filing a complaint with the EEOC or serving as a witness in its investigation.
Tanase’s attorneys are seeking damages of around $8 million for extortion and over $27 million for retaliation. Bowlero has asked the court to deny Tanase’s request to countersue and to sanction him by issuing a default judgment or precluding him from further testimony. The company argues that Tanase has undermined his own credibility and that his counterclaims are frivolous.
Bowlero has been under investigation by the EEOC since 2016, with over 70 former employees claiming they were unlawfully fired. They allege age discrimination, stating that Bowlero fired them for being too old as the company aimed to transform its bowling centers into more upscale experiences. The EEOC has found reasonable cause in most of the complaints and may file a federal lawsuit against Bowlero.
The dispute between Tanase and Bowlero centers around whether he resigned or was fired from his position. Tanase claims he was harassed and micromanaged by the company before his separation, while Bowlero alleges that Tanase sought revenge on the company and CEO after his departure.
The outcome of this legal battle will determine whether Bowlero will face consequences for alleged extortion, retaliation, and age discrimination.
