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Ex-EchoStar exec files discrimination lawsuit
She alleges 'yelling fits' by CEO Ergen were demeaning

By John Accola, Rocky Mountain News
January 14, 2005

A highly paid executive who abruptly resigned a year ago from EchoStar Communications has filed a discrimination lawsuit alleging she was subjected to "violent yelling fits" from company founder Charlie Ergen.

Soraya Hesabi-Cartwright, a former executive vice president, faults EchoStar's management for standing passively on the sidelines while witnessing Ergen's alleged abusive behavior.

Her lawsuit, filed Monday in Denver federal court, describes EchoStar as a "boys club" that discriminated against her on the basis of sex and national origin.

The 44-year-old plaintiff, an Iranian-American who joined EchoStar in 1994, is seeking unspecified damages for emotional distress and mental anguish in addition to reinstatement and $4 million in lost stock options.

EchoStar spokesman Steve Caulk said the allegations are without merit and that "EchoStar will prevail at trial."

"EchoStar has always been a equal opportunity employer, and we are disappointed that Hesabi-Cartwright . . . has chosen to file a lawsuit," EchoStar said in a statement. "We cannot speculate on her motives for filing."

The Douglas County satellite-TV provider noted that Hesabi-Cartwright, who oversaw EchoStar's Dish Network subsidiary, was one of Colorado's highest-paid executives, with compensation in 2003 of more than $13.5 million.

Hesabi-Cartwright, of Lone Tree, could not be reached Thursday. Her attorney, Robert Truhlar, said he was "too busy" to discuss his client's current employment status and circumstances.

Her lawsuit cites a series of confrontations with Ergen, EchoStar's chairman and CEO, that escalated into personal and demeaning tirades in which she was berated in front of other senior executives.

The lawsuit describes a December 2003 incident in which Ergen "yelled and screamed" at Hesabi-Cartwright after one of his folksy "Charlie Chat Broadcast" TV appearances to Dish subscribers.

"This hostility escalated until it was unsafe and intolerable for Ms. Hesabi-Cartwright to continue her employment with EchoStar," the complaint stated.

In January 2004, Hesabi-Cartwright quietly left EchoStar without a company announcement.

At the time, trade publication Multichannel News noted that the senior executive was no longer listed with the other officers and senior managers on the company Web site.

"I would say that she will definitely be missed," an EchoStar spokesman told the publication.

"We wish her all the best in her future endeavors," the spokesman said.