Three former crew members of the ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey have filed a lawsuit against 20th Television and its parent company, Disney, alleging a hostile work environment marked by repeated sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. The lawsuit, submitted Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, outlines disturbing claims involving inappropriate sexual behavior, offensive language, and management failures to protect employees or respond to complaints.
Lawsuit Filed by Crew Members Alleges “Unchecked Campaign of Sexual Harassment”
Caroline Mack, Alicia Haverland, and Ava Steinbrenner, who all worked in the props department of Doctor Odyssey, are the plaintiffs in the case. According to the filed complaint, the three women allege they were subjected to months of continuous sexual harassment and unwanted physical contact by assistant prop master Tyler Patton.
The allegations describe what the plaintiffs call an “unchecked campaign of sexual harassment,” which included offensive sexual jokes, unsolicited touching, and a stream of degrading comments aimed at making women on set feel uncomfortable. According to the lawsuit, Patton’s behavior was not isolated but instead part of a broader toxic culture that was enabled or ignored by supervisors — including his wife, Tammie Patton, who served as prop master and his direct superior.
Examples of Alleged Harassment: Explicit Remarks and Inappropriate Behavior
The lawsuit cites numerous examples of Tyler Patton’s alleged misconduct. These include regular use of sexual jokes and innuendos in workplace conversations, many of which were described as overtly degrading.
In one documented incident, Patton reportedly referred to a crew member as “mumbles” and made the vulgar comment, “Swallow the cum before you talk.” In another, he is alleged to have asked aloud, “Why has no one broken her yet?”— a phrase the plaintiffs interpreted as suggesting sexual domination.
He also reportedly texted pornographic materials to members of the props department, including his wife. One notable example involved a deceptive link that claimed President Joe Biden was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. When colleagues clicked on it, they were redirected to an explicit image of a naked man with an erect penis. Following this incident, Patton allegedly laughed and said, “If I wasn’t f—ing the boss, I’d be fired.”
According to the plaintiffs, Patton frequently groped female crew members, placed his arms around their necks, gave them prolonged and unwanted hugs, and engaged in behavior that made the work environment uncomfortable and threatening.
Prior Complaints Against Tyler Patton Revealed
The lawsuit also highlights Patton’s prior history of inappropriate workplace behavior. It refers to a past lawsuit involving Patton while he worked on the set of the television drama House, produced by Universal Network Television. In that earlier case, a former employee named Carl Jones accused Patton of groping his genitals and inviting women from production teams to engage in sexual acts. That complaint was settled privately but is being used to demonstrate a pattern of misconduct by Patton and a history of inaction by employers.
Despite his record, Patton was employed by 20th Television without apparent regard to his past behavior, the lawsuit states, suggesting a failure of due diligence and responsible hiring practices by the company.
Retaliation After Complaints: Threats, Demotions, and Layoffs
After Mack reported Patton’s behavior to human resources and to her union, the lawsuit claims that Disney and 20th Television took minimal corrective action. Though Tyler Patton was eventually terminated, the retaliation against the plaintiffs allegedly continued.
The complaint says that following her husband’s dismissal, Tammie Patton retaliated by assigning the plaintiffs menial or humiliating tasks and undermining their roles within the props department. The situation escalated when the entire props department — except for the newly hired assistant to replace Patton — was laid off under the pretense of departmental restructuring.
The plaintiffs believe this was not a genuine layoff, but rather a targeted effort to remove them from the production in response to their complaints. Shortly afterward, the same roles were allegedly filled by new hires. “Clearly, no ‘layoff’ had occurred,” the complaint asserts. “Instead, Defendants wiped the Prop Department’s slate clean to avoid having to deal with any remaining employee-relations issues tied to Tyler Patton’s and Tammie Patton’s misconduct.”
Career Fallout: Plaintiffs Say They Were Blacklisted
In the wake of these events, Mack, Haverland, and Steinbrenner state that they have effectively been blacklisted from future projects associated with Disney and 20th Television. According to the lawsuit, despite their qualifications and experience, they have been unable to secure work on productions under the same corporate umbrella — a development they believe is a direct result of their whistleblowing.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages related to sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring and supervision. No specific dollar amount is listed in the complaint.
As of this writing, neither Disney nor 20th Television has issued a public statement in response to the allegations.
Status of Doctor Odyssey Remains Unclear
The lawsuit adds further uncertainty to the future of Doctor Odyssey, which is already facing questions about renewal. The show, which stars Joshua Jackson as a cruise ship physician, was created under the banner of Ryan Murphy Television and premiered in the fall of 2024 on ABC. Despite high expectations, the series suffered a decline in ratings over its first season and was notably absent from ABC’s initial 2025–2026 programming announcements.
According to TVLine, ABC has not confirmed whether Doctor Odyssey will be renewed for a second season. The show remains in limbo as the only current ABC scripted drama yet to receive a decision. Industry insiders believe the legal controversy and crew changes may be complicating renewal talks.
Broader Implications for the Entertainment Industry
This case brings renewed attention to ongoing concerns about workplace misconduct in Hollywood. It reflects the struggles many industry workers face when confronting powerful employers and highlights alleged failures in how complaints are handled internally.
The lawsuit may also reignite discussions surrounding the effectiveness of human resources departments within the entertainment industry, as well as the transparency and accountability of studios in addressing harassment claims. As of now, the case is pending in Los Angeles Superior Court, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming months.
