Fired NY Philharmonic trumpeter sues for $25M, says romantic fling from 16 years ago was consensual
A New York Philharmonic trumpeter who claims he was wrongly canned is suing the famed orchestra for $25 million, court papers show.
Matthew Muckey, third trumpet with the Philharmonic, sued in March claiming he was wrongly fired over a romantic fling he'd had 16 years prior in which his ex-lover confirmed her consent in writing and even complimented him on his performance in the sack.
Now Muckey, 40, is seeking a big payout from the Philharmonic and the law firm whose investigation allegedly led to his termination, according to newly-filed legal papers.
The firm, Levy Employment Law, allegedly failed to let Muckey see any accusations from the woman he slept with in 2008, and apparently ignored written messages she'd sent to Muckey after their dalliance, he alleged in the litigation.
'Awwww you're really the best thanks for everything, yes, even the sex,' she allegedly wrote to him via Facebook Messenger after their 2008 encounter. 'It was pretty good.'
The pair had sex twice, according to messages included in the lawsuit.
'I did consent,' she wrote, according to court docs.
Muckey was fired in October, after the Philharmonic, which apparently had no current complaints against him, surveyed its musicians asking about Muckey by name.
'It did not matter to the Philharmonic that none of the musicians surveyed alleged that Mr. Muckey had engaged in any acts of sexual harassment, violence and/or abuse,' he said in court papers.
The Philharmonic 'attempted to justify the disciplinary actions it took against Mr. Muckey as being based upon a supposed significant number of orchestra members not wanting to work with him and, therefore, supporting both the Suspension and the Dismissal.'
The Philharmonic declined comment. The Levy firm did not respond to a message seeking comment.
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