JPMorgan demands records in ex-employee's sexual harassment lawsuit

JPMorgan Chase is seeking to obtain the employment and cellphone records of Chirayu Rana, a former investment banker who sued the company for sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Rana’s lawsuit, which went viral online, included explicit allegations against his supervisor, Lorna Hajdini, including claims of sexual assault, racial slurs, and threats to sabotage his career. Hajdini and JPMorgan have countersued, denying the allegations and claiming Rana fabricated his complaints for financial gain.

During a hearing, Rana’s attorneys argued that JPMorgan’s request for his past employment records and cellphone data was overly broad and could harm his future job prospects. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan seemed skeptical, noting that Rana’s lawsuit had already drawn significant attention due to its lurid details, which he described as unnecessary. Kaplan also questioned whether Rana’s complaint was motivated by a desire to embarrass JPMorgan and gain publicity.

JPMorgan’s attorney, Cardelle Spangler, claimed Rana had been untruthful in multiple ways, including falsely claiming his father had died to take bereavement leave. Hajdini’s attorney, Melissa Rodriguez, argued that cellphone records were crucial to disprove Rana’s claims of assault, stating that the records would show they were not together during the alleged incidents. Rodriguez also highlighted the emotional toll the lawsuit has taken on Hajdini, who has faced threats and ridicule since the allegations became public.

The original lawsuit, filed in April, included graphic details of Hajdini’s alleged harassment, such as racially charged remarks and forced sexual acts. While Rana later abandoned some state claims, the federal lawsuit focuses on racial discrimination, omitting many of the explicit details. However, the state case, where Hajdini’s counterclaims remain active, keeps the earlier allegations in the public record.