On July 25, 2025, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight filed a wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Joseph Berkowitz against Munchkin, Inc. and its parent company, WHY Brands, Inc. (collectively, “Munchkin”), the retailer and manufacturer of products for babies, toddlers, and parents.

Mr. Berkowitz served as Munchkin’s General Counsel between December 2023 and September 2024. His lawsuit alleges that he was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for urging Munchkin to investigate complaints of unlawful discrimination. The Complaint asserts that Mr. Berkowitz discovered a “War on Families” that was led by Munchkin’s Chief Brand Officer, Diane Barnes, who disparaged working mothers as “crazy” or “cowards,” who “can’t have it all,” and reprimanded two employees in front of their children on Bring Your Kids to Work Day. When the employees lodged complaints, Ms. Barnes sought to have them fired, according to the lawsuit.

As Munchkin’s General Counsel, Mr. Berkowitz urged Munchkin to investigate the discrimination complaints against Ms. Barnes, as required by law, the lawsuit says. Instead, according to the Complaint, Steve Dunn, Munchkin’s CEO, blocked the investigation, and with Ms. Barnes, began a retaliatory campaign against Mr. Berkowitz that ended in his wrongful termination.

“This is a case about a War on Families and mothers, and a man who tried to stop it. It is also a story of life-altering retaliation against that man,” the Complaint reads, going on to detail an office environment “riddled with discrimination, cruelty, and retaliation.”

In addition to wrongful termination, Mr. Berkowitz brings claims for gender discrimination and retaliation in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Whistleblower Protection Act.