Arianne Zucker Wins a Ruling in Her Lawsuit Against DAYS

Former Days of Our Lives star Arianne Zucker (ex-Nicole) has gained momentum in her lawsuit against the soap. In a decision issued on Aug. 8, a Los Angeles County judge ruled that Zucker can move ahead with the portion of her complaint being disputed by former executive producer Albert Alarr, one of the defendants.

Back in February, Zucker filed a lawsuit against Corday Productions Inc., DAYS’ executive producer Ken Corday, and Alarr, by whom she alleges she was sexually harassed. The Daytime Emmy winner — whose contract with the soap was not renewed — is suing for “harassment, discrimination, retaliation, negligent hiring and supervision, and wrongful termination” as well as other claims.

Alarr was fired from the soap in August 2023 following an investigation into complaints raised by some actors — including Zucker — about his behavior on set. According to Rolling Stone, Zucker is suing the former EP for sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and was seeking a judicial order under a section of California’s business code that would bar him from harassing behavior in any future workplace. In response, Alarr requested that the court strike the alleged business code violation against him, claiming it was not applicable.

Rolling Stone reports that during the Aug. 8 hearing, Alarr’s lawyer, Robert Barta, stated that his client is currently unemployed and “there have to be allegations he is engaged in continuing behavior… There are simply no facts alleged to support a claim for injunctive relief.”

Judge Kristin S. Escalante, however, disagreed with Barta’s argument. “Plaintiff has alleged a long-standing course of conduct by Mr. Alarr,” she wrote in her ruling, issued several hours after the morning hearing. “An inference arises from the facts alleged that the behavior would be likely to recur.”

Additionally, Judge Escalante wrote that while Alarr claims he is not currently employed, an injunction could be appropriate if Zucker “ultimately proves” that he did engage in the alleged sexual harassment “and that the behavior is likely to occur in other jobs.”

Following the judge’s ruling, Zucker’s attorney, Anahita Sedaghatfar, told Rolling Stone “we are very pleased that the court agreed with us” and that they could proceed with the request for an injunction against Alarr. “As we stated in our motion, Ms. Zucker wants to ensure that no other woman can be harmed at the hands of Alarr again, and I will fight to make that happen.”

In response to Zucker’s lawsuit, DAYS issued a statement that the allegations were without merit. “Corday Productions offered to renew Ms. Zucker’s contract including offering her a pay increase. Rejecting Ms. Zucker’s counteroffer does not constitute retaliation. Complaints about Mr. Alarr’s on-set behavior were promptly investigated. Corday Productions fully cooperated with the impartial investigation and subsequently terminated Mr. Alarr.”

The next hearing in Zucker’s case is set for October.