JPMorgan Executive Files Countersuit Against Accusers
Lorna Hadjidini, a female executive at JPMorgan, has initiated a countersuit against her #MeToo accusers, who claimed she engaged in sexual harassment and racial misconduct.
Filing her lawsuit in Manhattan’s New York state court on Tuesday night, Hadjidini asserts that the allegations are baseless. She argues that they have severely impacted her reputation and personal life, as reported by Reuters.
In the legal documents submitted, Hadjidini accuses her former colleague, Chirayu Rana, of fabricating accusations that she raped and drugged him to gain attention, inflict suffering, and extort millions from both her and JPMorgan.
The counterclaim mentions that, despite being false, Rana’s lawsuit was unfortunately effective.
Hadjidini describes how she has experienced continuous ridicule and harassment, facing jokes and memes that are degrading and sexual in nature, all stemming from Rana’s alleged lies.
In her legal actions, Hadjidini is seeking unspecified damages for defamation and emotional distress.
Earlier this month, following Hadjidini’s joining of the leveraged finance team in spring 2024, it was disclosed that one of her male subordinates filed a suit claiming sexual harassment. This lawsuit, filed under the alias “John Doe,” included serious allegations, asserting that she made him a “sex slave,” threatened his career if he rebuffed her advances, and subjected him to frequent racial slurs.
Later reports identified the male staffer as Chirayu Rana, a former principal at Bregal Sagemount. According to investigations previously conducted by JPMorgan, no evidence of wrongdoing by Hadjidini had been found prior to the lawsuit’s filing.
About a week later, a report revealed that JPMorgan had offered Rana a $1 million settlement in March, just before he went ahead with his legal action in April. This sum was reportedly aligned with approximately two years’ worth of salary he was offered to steer clear of litigation. Rana is said to have rejected this offer and instead submitted a counterproposal for $11.75 million.
A JPMorgan spokesperson commented on the situation, mentioning that negotiation attempts had occurred. While confidentiality prevents detailed discussions, the spokesperson emphasized the company’s desire to resolve matters without prolonged litigation, especially as it concerns employee reputations.
“We remain convinced that these allegations are unfounded, and the new details arising from the public filing only reinforce that view,” the spokesperson added.
JPMorgan publicly supported Hadjidini, with a spokesperson stating, “We fully stand behind Lorna and her right to defend her reputation. We have consistently expressed our belief that the accusations against her and the company lack merit.”
