A judge has ruled that a former director of business and legal affairs at FremantleMedia North America Inc. will not have to arbitrate his claims that he was wrongfully terminated because of his age and replaced with a younger worker.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dean J. Kitchens issued his ruling in plaintiff Brian Hawk’s lawsuit on Tuesday after having heard arguments in the case on Aug. 22 and taken the issues under submission.

“On balance, the court concludes that defendants have not proven the existence of the arbitration agreement by a preponderance of the evidence … after plaintiff’s challenge to its authenticity,” the judge wrote. “Accordingly, the court does not find that a valid agreement to arbitrate exists between the parties and defendants’ motion is denied.”

The judge

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