JPMorgan Chase Faces Harassment Lawsuit as Court Reviews Evidence Requests

JPMorgan Chase is seeking extensive records from Chirayu Rana, a former investment banker who sued the company for alleged sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Rana claims his supervisor, Lorna Hajdini, sexually assaulted him, made racially charged remarks, and threatened to sabotage his career if he didn’t comply with her demands. The bank and Hajdini have countersued, denying the allegations and accusing Rana of fabricating his claims for a payout.

During a recent court hearing, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan allowed JPMorgan to subpoena Rana’s previous employment records to verify his claims about his salary and past complaints at Morgan Stanley. However, the judge deemed the bank’s request for Rana’s cellphone records as overbroad and required a revised subpoena. Kaplan also expressed skepticism about the public nature of Rana’s lawsuit, suggesting it was aimed at embarrassing JPMorgan.

Rana’s original lawsuit, filed in April, gained attention for its detailed accounts of harassment, including excerpts of alleged exchanges between him and Hajdini. The lawsuit has since been narrowed to focus on racial discrimination, omitting many of the lurid details. Hajdini’s attorney, Melissa Rodriguez, called the allegations “fantastical” and argued that the case has had a life-altering impact on her client, who has received threats and ridicule.

Representing JPMorgan, attorney Cardelle Spangler argued that Rana had been untruthful with the bank in several ways, including falsely claiming his father had died to take bereavement leave. The case remains ongoing, with both sides presenting their evidence in court.