Lawsuit Accuses Bloomberg Manager of Sexual Harassment
A recent lawsuit claims that a senior manager at Bloomberg LP harassed male employees with inappropriate sexual messages, including discussions about intimate topics during work conversations, while major media companies failed to intervene.
Charles Kyle O’Rourke, an account manager at Bloomberg since 2019, alleges that senior management misused the company’s internal messaging platform for sexual harassment and accuses Bloomberg itself of allowing such behavior to persist.
The lawsuit was filed this week in Manhattan’s Supreme Court and identifies Peter Elliott as the alleged harasser.
“During his nearly six-year tenure, Mr. O’Rourke faced ongoing sexual harassment from Peter Elliott and was subjected to a hostile work environment, compounded by a lack of support from management and an absence of reasonable accommodations for his declining mental health,” the lawsuit states.
In February 2025, while planning an overseas trip, O’Rourke reported receiving harassing messages from Elliott.
One message reportedly read, “Your life sucks. I hope there’s some Thai to soothe you. Would you take your whole tribe with you? Or would you pack just some lube and Nasty Pig cutoffs and get on a plane?”
Elliott allegedly made further inappropriate comments, suggesting O’Rourke “spit” and including unwelcome innuendos like “coffee” and “teeth marks,” as outlined in the lawsuit.
Despite reporting Elliott’s behavior to higher-ups, O’Rourke alleges that Bloomberg took no action, allowing the harassment to continue.
Upon informing his manager, David LaPaglia, about his increasing ADHD symptoms and anxiety and seeking help, O’Rourke claims that LaPaglia retaliated with a coordinated effort to force him out of the company.
The lawsuit describes a situation where LaPaglia subjected O’Rourke to intensive micromanagement, requiring constant updates on tasks, withdrawing clients from his portfolio, and misleading clients by stating that O’Rourke no longer worked there.
Eventually, O’Rourke took sick leave on August 19, which the lawsuit characterizes as a deliberate attempt to pressure him out of his position.
The lawsuit, filed on April 13 by attorneys Rayna Rubin and Andrew Clark, includes six claims against Bloomberg under New York state and city human rights laws. These claims cover hostile work environment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, retaliation, aiding and abetting, and whistleblower retaliation.
It argues that Bloomberg is “strictly liable” for its executives’ actions, suggesting that by not disciplining Elliott and LaPaglia, the company implicitly endorsed the harassment.
O’Rourke is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees, and a court ruling that compels Bloomberg to reassess its harassment reporting and training policies. A jury trial is also requested.
In response, a spokesperson for Bloomberg LP, Ty Trippett, stated, “We have investigated his claims and believe there is no basis to them.”
Attempts to contact both Elliott and O’Rourke for further comment were unsuccessful.
