An Amazon employee has alleged that she was raped by a senior executive during a business trip to New York City, claiming the company urged her to stay silent and did not conduct a thorough investigation into her accusations. This is all part of a serious lawsuit that was filed recently.
Laura Danbom, who is a marketing and operations manager for Amazon Web Services in Seattle, is suing the company for creating a hostile work environment and for violating Washington State’s Silenced No More Act, which aims to protect victims who report workplace assaults from any backlash.
The incident reportedly occurred on October 27, 2023, while Danbom was in New York with colleagues, including Michelangelo Simonte, a leading advertising executive in her division. The lawsuit outlines that their group attended an Amazon-sponsored open bar event that evening and later went to karaoke bars, all covered by Amazon.
According to the complaint, earlier in the night, Danbom and Simonte “flirted,” “joked,” and appeared to get along well. However, as the night progressed, Simonte “kissed her” and convinced her to let him walk her to her hotel room.
Danbom was staying at the Hyatt Place in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Unfortunately, things took a dark turn there, as outlined in the suit.
“In Laura’s hotel room, during the early morning hours, Simonte raped her,” the complaint states, adding that she clearly said “no” before the act began. It describes a moment when Danbom tried to express her disbelief about what was happening, asking him if he realized it was rape, to which Simonte acknowledged but continued regardless.
The following day, Danbom reported the incident to the New York Police Department, providing them with a condom left behind by Simonte and undergoing a rape kit examination.
In a monitored phone call with Danbom, Simonte reportedly insisted he was “200% sure” they hadn’t had any sexual interaction, which he later contradicted during a police interview where he claimed to have been too intoxicated to remember details.
Simonte did not reply to a request for comment via LinkedIn.
According to Danbom’s attorney, the NYPD chose not to pursue the case further, stating they had exhausted all investigative options. Allegations in the complaint suggest that the police did not interview key witnesses right after the incident, which included another Amazon employee.
After two days, Danbom informed Amazon’s HR department about the incident and also confided in friends and her therapist. Although Amazon placed Simonte on an extended leave while investigating the claims, they ultimately concluded he didn’t breach their policy.
The company described Danbom’s account as “unfounded due to lack of evidence,” viewing it as a case of “he said, she said,” according to the legal filing. The complaint claims their investigation was incomplete, lacking witness interviews that could support Danbom’s story and ignoring available evidence.
Moreover, the lawsuit asserts that the Amazon investigation involved inappropriate and distressing questions that suggested Danbom could have done more to prevent the attack, such as challenging her on whether she explicitly yelled “no.” This was characterized as “shameful questioning” given Amazon’s stature as an employer in 2024.
Amazon indicated it would reconsider the case if prosecutors brought charges against Simonte. Additionally, they allegedly instructed Danbom to refrain from discussing the assault at work, labeling the matter as “highly confidential.”
Danbom expressed frustration, stating that this made it difficult for her to warn other women who might interact with Simonte in the future.
She was informed that her role at Amazon wouldn’t change and that she would still need to “work with Simonte directly” in various capacities.
In a statement, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel emphasized the company’s serious stance on allegations of this nature and its commitment to investigating every report thoroughly, adding that appropriate actions are taken against violators of their policies.
Danbom revealed she took two leaves of absence after the incident, and after applying for multiple roles within Amazon, she ultimately transferred to a different position in 2024—an escape from her previous circumstance, even though it was only a lateral move. She remarked, “I was on a path for a promotion and had to walk away from that.”
The complaint seeks compensation for lost wages, which includes both past and future earnings, bonuses, and other employment benefits, the total of which will be determined during the trial.
