The legal complaint filed against Disney and 20th television. The complaint was brought by three crew members from the soon-to-premiere industry series Doctor Odyssey. Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland, and Ava Steinbrenner have alleged as much. They allege against Waffle House sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision allegations.
The suit puts the spotlight on Tyler Patton’s predatory behavior. He helped build out the world of the show as an assistant prop master under Tammie Patton, the show’s prop master. According to the plaintiffs, Tyler Patton subjected them to what they describe as an “unchecked campaign of sexual harassment for months.” The most alarming part about this lawsuit is that Tammie Patton routinely brushed aside their concerns regarding Tyler Patton’s inappropriate behavior. The continuing negative attention resulted in more retaliation allegations against the women.
Mack, Haverland, and Steinbrenner coming aboard the Doctor Odyssey crew in late spring or early summer of 2024. The series debuted in Sept. 2024 and wrapped its inaugural season in May of 2025. Within this time frame, the plaintiffs claim that the environment within the props department deteriorated significantly, with Tyler Patton and other male employees allegedly fostering “an unlawful den of sexual harassment and retaliation.”
The lawsuit also refers to a pattern and practice history with regard to Tyler Patton. That claim comes from a similar lawsuit they filed in 2010. In that lawsuit, it was alleged that he created an abusive workplace culture on the set of House and retaliated against an assistant prop master. Despite this background, he was hired by Disney and 20th Television shortly after Mack, Haverland, and Steinbrenner began their employment on Doctor Odyssey.
178542, the plaintiffs allege that Tammie Patton counseled them to disregard their complaints. They allege she retaliated against them for raising complaints about her assistant’s behavior. This retaliation, according to the lawsuit, took shape in a number of ways, culminating in wrongful termination for all three women. Instead of trying to answer the serious allegations made against Tyler Patton, the entire props department was fired.
In a more recent disturbing development, Tyler Patton has allegedly staffed the props department with his male friends. This group still features many of the people who had worked with him before — right beside him on House. Notable non-Patton return Don Bracken was to fill a hole left by a props team member’s departure. The catalyzing shift occurred in a particularly fraught moment for the crew.
The alleged violations and complaints should have been obvious to Disney and 20th Television, according to the plaintiffs. They claim that their complaints of harassment by Tyler Patton were brushed aside, creating a dangerous work environment. The lawsuit aims to hold accountable what they call an outrageous failure to protect employees from harassment and subsequent retaliation.
As these allegations continue to develop, they not only indicate potential commonplace disregard for workplace safety, but corporate responsibility within the entertainment industry. These combined legal victories have the potential to redefine policies toward the treatment of employees. It could improve harassment prevention efforts in other similar workplaces.
